Obituary : William Edward Garner, 1889-1960

Abstract

Professor W. E. Garner died on 4 March 1960 at his home at Westburyon-Trym, Bristol, where he had lived for over thirty years. Garner was born at Hugglescote, Leicestershire, on 12 May 1889, the eldest son in a family of three sons and a daughter. His younger brothers also attained distinction in the scientific world: Sir Harry Garner, after notable achievements in the field of aircraft research and development, became Chief Scientist to the Ministry of Supply, and F. H. Garner was for many years until his retirement in 1960 Professor of Chemical Engineering in the University of Birmingham. After attending Market Bosworth Grammar School (1902-1907) Garner went to Birmingham University (1908-1913). He was awarded an 1851 Exhibition in 1913 and proceeded to the University of Gottingen to work with Professor Gustav Tammann. Garner’s research at Gottingen was curtailed by the outbreak of the First World War and he only managed to get out of Germany in time. In the University of Birmingham he carried out research under Professor P. F. Frankland and it is interesting to recall that he began his scientific life as an organic chemist—his first publications being on the preparation of oximes, amines and the reactions of thionyl chloride with lactic acid and ethyl lactate.