Henry Enfield Roscoe

Abstract

Henry Enfield Roscoe (1833–1915) was one of the most prominent chemists and educational reformers in Victorian Britain. He was born in London and was educated in Liverpool and at University College London. He then studied under Robert Bunsen in Heidelberg and thereafter admired German education. Having transformed the chemistry department at Owens College into one of the best in Britain, he assisted the conversion of the college into Victoria University (University of Manchester’s official name until 2004) and then embarked on a campaign to reform technical education at all levels, using Germany as a model. Roscoe became a Manchester MP in 1885 and after helping with the passing of the Technical Instruction Act in 1889, he pushed for a scheme of compulsory metrication in 1895. After losing his seat in the General Election of 1895, Roscoe oversaw the reform of the University of London as its vice-chancellor, assisted the formation of Imperial College, helped to found the Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, and was a director of the Castner-Kellner Alkali Company. His ability to bring together academic and industrial chemists resulted in the creation of the Society of Chemical Industry (1881), and his association with Eton College led to the formation of the forerunner of the Association for Science Education. This biography aims to show how these different strands of Roscoe’s career came together to make Roscoe one of the leading scientists of his generation; his impact is still felt today.