John Gamble Kirkwood

Dates

May 30, 1907 – August 9, 1959

Authorized Form of Name

Kirkwood, John Gamble, 1907-1959

Biography

Abstract

John Gamble Kirkwood was Sterling Professor of Chemistry at Yale University (1951-1959). Other institutional affiliations included California Institute of Technology and Cornell University. His research interests included physical chemistry and the quantum effects on equations of state.

Important Dates

May 30, 1907Birth, Gotebo (Okla.).

1926Obtained SB, University of Chicago, Chicago (Ill.).

1929Obtained PhD in Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge (Mass.).

1929 – 1930National Research Fellow, Harvard University.

1930 – 1931Research Associate in Physical Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1931 – 1932International Research Fellow, University of Munich and University Leipzig.

1932 – 1934Research Associate, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

1934 – 1937Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Cornell University.

1937 – 1938Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Chicago.

1938 – 1947Todd Professor of Chemistry, Cornell University, Ithaca (N.Y.).

1947 – 1951Arthur A. Noyes Professor of Chemistry, California Institute of Technology.

1951 – 1959Sterling Professor of Chemistry (1951-1959) and Chair, Department of Chemistry (1951-1959), Yale University, New Haven (Conn.).

1959Member, National Academy of Sciences.

August 9, 1959Death, New Haven (Conn.).

Occupation

Physical chemist.

Places

Subjects

Electrolytes.

Physical chemistry.

Statistical mechanics.

Relationships

People

Family

Kirkwood, Caroline

Sister.

Kirkwood, Gladys Lillian Danielson

Wife. Married in 1930 and divorced in 1951.

Kirkwood, John Millard

Father.

Kirkwood, John Millard, 1935-

Son.

Kirkwood, Lillian Gamble

Mother.

Kirkwood, Margaret

Sister.

Kirkwood, Platonia Kalder

Second wife. Married in 1958.

Advisors & Collaborators

Alder, B. J.

Advised by Kirkwood at California Institute of Technology, "The radial distribution function and the thermodynamic properties of monatomic liquids: a statistical mechanical theory of the coefficient of thermal conductivity of monatomic liquids."

Debye, Peter J. W. (Peter Josef William), 1884-1966

Post doctoral advisor at University of Leipzig and both employed at Cornell University.

Dintzis, Howard

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University.

Fitts, Donald D., 1932-

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University, "Contributions to the statistical - mechanical theory of fluids: I. A general theory of surface tension for quantum fluids; II. The optical rotatory power of helical molecules."

Fixman, Marshall

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University in statistical mechanics and polymer chemistry.

Gajdusek, D. Carleton (Daniel Carleton), 1923-2008

Advised by Kirkwood at California Institute of Technology in Prions.

Helfand, Eugene

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University, "I. Theory of transport in electrolytic solutions; II. Titration curve of a redox polymer; III. Distribution functions in quantum mechanics."

Keyes, Frederick G. (Frederick George), 1885-1976

PhD advisor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), "An experimental study of the dielectric constant of carbon dioxide as a function of its density," and both employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Montroll, E. W.

Advised by Kirkwood at Cornell University in Phase Transitions.

Oppenheim, Irwin

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University, "Problems in quantum statistical mechanics; Quadrupole coupling constants of homo-nuclear diatomic molecules; Quantum hydrodynamics."

Plescia, Otto J.

Advised by Kirkwood at Cornell University, "The fractionation of proteins by electrophoresis - convection."

Poirier, Jacques C.

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University.

Ross, John, 1926-

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics of Systems Far from Equilibrium.

Scheraga, Harold Abraham, 1921-

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University in structures of proteins.

Slater, John C. (John Clarke), 1900-1976

Post doctoral advisor at Harvard University in Chemistry and both employed at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Stillinger, F. H.

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University, "The equilibrium statistical mechanics of fluids: I. Structure of the electrical double layer; II. Theory of fused salts and concentrated electrolytes; III. Fluid distribution functions by molecular size variation; IV. The quantum mechanical equation …"

Timasheff, Serge N., 1926-

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University in Protein-Solvent Interactions and Biophysical Chemistry.

Tinoco, Ignacio

Advised by Kirkwood at Yale University.

Uhlig, Herbert Henry, 1907-

Advised by Kirkwood at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Zwanzig, Robert

Advised by Kirkwood at California Institute of Technology, "Quantum hydrodynamics. A statistical mechanical theory of light scattering from simple non-polar fluids."