Educated in Munich. In 1919 he resumed his studies at the University of Berlin and worked under Nernst. He studied the measurement of specific heats at low temperatures, related to the 'Third law of Thermodynamics.' Ph. D. in 1921. In 1924 he became Privatdozent in Berlin and three years later associate professor. In 1931 he succeeded Eucken to the chair of physical chemistry at the Technical University of Breslau. In 1932 he was visiting professor at Berkeley. In 1933 he moved to Clarendon Laboratory in Oxford. In 1935 he was appointed readership on thermodynamics and in 1945 he became professor. F. R. S. 1941. Rumford Medal in 1948. Kamerlingh Onnes Medal of the Dutch Institute of Refrigeration. In 1952 he was awarded the Linde Medal. C. B. E. in 1946. K. B. E. in 1955.