Person Cook; Sir; James Wilfred (1900 - 1975); organic chemist; educationist Cook James Wilfred Sir organic chemist; educationist 1900 - 1975 British Male South Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom 10 December 1900 19001210 His home, The Burn, 15A Knowle Road, Budleigh Salterton, East Devon, England, United Kingdom 21 October 1975 19751021

The Burn, 15A Knowle Road, Budleigh Salterton, East Devon, England, United Kingdom (1975)

Organic chemist and educationist Chemistry Organic chemistry Education: Sloane School, Chelsea; University College, London MSc (1921); PhD (1923); DSc (1925) Career: Reader in pathological chemistry, London University (1932); Professor of Chemistry, The Research Institute, The Cancer Hospital, London (1935); regius chair of chemistry, Glasgow (1939-1954); principal of the University College of the South West (1954-1966). Honours: Kt 1963 Awards/Medals: Kennaway, prize of the International Union Against Cancer 1936 Parents: Charles William Cook, coachman, of Hitchin, and Frances, daughter of Aaron Wall of Herefordshire. Spouse: 1) (m. 1930) Elsie Winifred, née Griffiths (d. 1966); 2) (m. 1967) Vera Elizabeth, née Ford, biologist. Children: Three sons from his first marriage. Distinguished for his investigations on the relation between the structure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and carcinogenic activity. Synthesized a large number of complex hydrocarbons and has made the far reaching discovery that the ring system of 1 : 2- benzanthracene is a potential carcinogenic molecule which can be developed into an active state by suitable substitution as in 1 : 2 : 5 : 6- dibenzanthracene 1 : 2- benzpyrene, methylcholanthracene, etc. Carried out much important work on the synthesis of compounds related to the sterols and the sex hormones; has provided unequivocal proof of the structures of oestrone and equilenin and has shown that the action of the former hormone may be reproduced by certain synthetic phenanthrene derivatives. Author or joint author of over 80 papers. Medals and prizes: Davy Medal 1954 Fellow 17/03/1938 37 Otto Rosenheim George Barger John Lionel Simonsen Frank Lee Pyman Harold King Christopher Kelk Ingold Samuel Smiles Gilbert Thomas Morgan Charles Stanley Gibson Arthur Harden Walter Norman Haworth Jocelyn Thorpe Ernest Laurence Kennaway Robert Robinson Ian Morris Heilbron Sources: Bulloch's Roll Obituaries: Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 1976 vol 22 pp 71-103, plate, by J M Robertson Cook J W, GA WS 1187.jpg ©Godfrey Argent Studio International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.1976.0003 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Cook%2C+James+Wilfred RCN 8498 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH1936 10 Dec 1900 - 21 Oct 1975 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 09/07/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA1891 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes 1b0c9587-2e1d-4fe3-86bf-e9ba28bf11c1