James Chadwick, 20 October 1891 - 24 July 1974

Abstract

Introduction The authors of this jointly written memoir divided its writing between them, one (H. S. W. M.) writing of the life, the other (N. F.) of the scientific work of its subject. Obviously, these two aspects cannot wholly be separated; inevitably some degree of overlap must remain in the two accounts. It is hoped that the reader will be indulgent: at least, every effort has been made to reduce mere repetition to a minimum. Early career— up to the end of World War I James Chadwick was born at Bollington near Macclesfield on 20 October 1891. He had two brothers, and one sister who died at an early age. When his father left the countryside to establish a laundry business in Manchester, Chadwick stayed on with his grandmother and received his primary education at the local school. He showed early aptitude for scholarship but it was not financially possible to send him to Manchester Grammar School for further education. Instead he went to Manchester Municipal Secondary School where the teaching was very good. In the first year at Secondary School he took a wide range of subjects including science and mathematics. The only striking omission, at least for time, was Greek. This was a cause of some regret to Chadwick but, as he himself says, if he had taken Greek he might well have continued with the classics, rather than with science. As time went on he became particularly interested in mathematics and physics though not especially so in chemistry. He was much encouraged by a sixth form master, Mr Wolfenden, to specialize in mathematics and it was his main interest at the time, especially applied mathematics.