Harry Julius Emeléus
Harry Julius Emeléus CBE, FRS was a leading British inorganic chemist and a professor in the department of chemistry, Cambridge University.Early life
Emeléus was born in Poplar, London on 22 June 1903, the son of Karl Henry Emeléus, a pharmacist who was born in Vaasa, Finland. The family moved to the Old Pharmacy in Battle, Sussex shortly after Emeléus was born. His elder brother Karl George Emeléus, went on to become professor of physics at the Queen's University of Belfast.
Emeléus was educated at St Leonards Collegiate School, Hastings, and Hastings grammar school followed by the Royal College of Science, Imperial College, London, graduating in 1923. He gained his PhD in 1926 and a DSc three years later. During his post-graduate studies he spent time at the University of Karlsruhe as a student of Alfred Stock and two years at Princeton University with Professor Hugh Stott Taylor. Among his many students, notable is Norman Greenwood.Career
Emeléus served as president of the inorganic chemistry division of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. He was also president of the Chemical Society and of the Royal Institute of Chemistry.Awards
Emeléus died of heart failure at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, on 2 December 1993. He was survived by his four children, his wife having predeceased him in January 1991.
