Origins & Early Life

Frederick Soddy FRS (2 September 1877 – 22 September 1956) was an English radiochemist who explained, with Ernest Rutherford, that radioactivity is due to the transmutation of elements, now known to involve nuclear reactions. He also proved the existence of isotopes of certain radioactive elements. In 1921, he received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry "for his contributions to our knowledge of the chemistry of radioactive substances, and his investigations into the origin and nature of isotopes". Soddy was a polymath who mastered chemistry, nuclear physics, statistical mechanics, finance, and economics.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Soddy was born at 6 Bolton Road, Eastbourne, England, the son of Benjamin Soddy, corn merchant, and his wife Hannah Green. He went to school at Eastbourne College, before going on to study at University College of Wales at Aberystwyth and at Merton College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1898 with first class honours in chemistry. He was a researcher at Oxford from 1898 to 1900. In 1900, he became a demonstrator in chemistry at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, where he worked with Ernest Rutherford on radioactivity. He and Rutherford realized...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adolphe Thiers — Contemporary (Died in 1877) (1877): Influential French statesman, historian, and President of the Third Republic.
• Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt — Contemporary (Born in 1877) (1877): American sportsman and businessman, known for his involvement in pioneering endeavors.
• Brigham Young — Contemporary (Died in 1877) (1877): Second President of the LDS Church and Governor of Utah Territory.
• A. A. Milne — Contemporary (Died in 1956) (1956): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Alan Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): English comic book writer and artist known for Captain Britain and X-Men work.
• Alan Eustace — Contemporary (Born in 1956) (1956): Pioneering computer scientist known for his work at Google and record-breaking space dive.
• Andrew Grove — Shared historical date (09-02 · Born) (1936): Visionary engineer and CEO who drove Intel to global semiconductor dominance.
• Arthur Ashkin — Shared historical date (09-02 · Born) (1922): Pioneering physicist, recognized as the father of optical tweezers.
• André Gorz — Shared historical date (09-22 · Died) (2007): Austrian-French philosopher known for critiques of work and political ecology.
• August Wilhelm Iffland — Shared historical date (09-22 · Died) (1814): Prominent German actor and dramatic author, celebrated for his roles in Schiller's works.
• 1877 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1877
• September 2 (09-02) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 2
• 1956 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1956
• September 22 (09-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 22