
author
1875–1934
A pioneering metallurgist, he helped turn the scientific study of metals into a modern research field. His work at Britain’s National Physical Laboratory made it an important center for metallurgy in the early 20th century.

by Walter Rosenhain
Born in Berlin in 1875, Walter Rosenhain later built his career in Britain and became one of the leading metallurgists of his time. He is especially remembered for his research on the structure and behavior of metals and alloys, and for combining careful laboratory work with practical industrial problems.
Rosenhain spent much of his professional life at the National Physical Laboratory, where he played a major part in developing metallurgy as a serious scientific discipline. He published widely, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and earned a reputation for making the laboratory an important center for metallurgical research.
He died in 1934, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. For readers interested in the history of materials science, he stands out as one of the figures who helped shape the field in its formative years.