Arthur Lapworth, 1872-1941

Abstract

Arthur Lapworth was born in 1872 at Galashiels; his father was Charles Lapworth (F.R.S., 1888, Royal Medallist, 1891), the eminent first Professor of Geology in the University of Birmingham, who was a pioneer in laying the foundations of stratigraphy. After early education at St Andrews and at King Edward’s School, Birmingham, he graduated at Mason College and, as an 1851 Exhibitioner (1893-1895), proceeded to the City and Guilds of London Institute where the presiding genius was H. E. Armstrong. However, Lapworth came more directly under the care of F. S. Kipping who was at that time in charge of the main organic laboratory. Professor Kipping writes: ‘From the very first it was obvious that Lapworth had the experimental skill, as well as the powers of acute observation and sound deduction which would ensure his success in scientific work, and that his vivid imagination and high intellect would take him far in his profession. Any one who made Lapworth’s acquaintance could not fail to wish for closer ties, and although he was considerably my junior in age we soon became fast friends; perhaps it would be truer to say that our relationship, even in those early days, was rather that of congenial brothers. He became a frequent visitor at our house in South Kensington, where he often met Pope, Forster and other workers in Armstrong’s laboratories, and my wife soon shared with me the great pleasure of his friendship. During one vacation when he had made no holiday plans, we asked him to stay with us at Bridgwater: here it was that he met his future wife, Kathleen Holland, with whom during forty years he spent the rest of his life in peaceful and loving marital harmony.’ To this may be added that Kathleen was the younger sister of Mrs Kipping and of Mrs W. H. Perkin, thus Mrs Holland was the mother-in-law of three distinguished chemists and Fellows of the Royal Society.