author
William Noyes
1862–1928
A pioneering American chemist, he helped shape modern analytical and organic chemistry through careful work on atomic weights and the structure of camphor. He also built lasting influence as a teacher, department leader, and editor of major scientific journals.
2 Audiobooks
Handwork in Wood
by William Noyes
Wood and Forest
by William Noyes
About the author
Born in Iowa in 1857, he studied at Grinnell College and earned a Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins. Early in his career he taught at Rose Polytechnic Institute, where he began the research that made him well known in organic chemistry.
He later served as chief chemist at the National Bureau of Standards and then led the chemistry department at the University of Illinois from 1907 to 1926. His research on atomic weights and on compounds such as camphor earned him a strong reputation, and he received the Priestley Medal, one of the highest honors in American chemistry.
Beyond his own laboratory work, he played an important part in scientific publishing, helping found and edit influential chemistry journals. That mix of research, teaching, and editorial work made him one of the important American chemists of his era.