Frank Edward Smith

Sir Frank Edward Smith (14 October 1876 – 1 July 1970) was a British physicist and acting director of the National Physical Laboratory between 1936 and 1937.

Biography

Smith was born in Aston Manor, Birmingham on 14 October 1876, the fourth of seven children of Joseph Smith, an office clerk, and Fanny Jane (née Hetherington).

He was educated at Corbett Street Board School, Smethwick, and then, from age 11, at Smethwick Central School. He studied at the Birmingham Technical School, from where he won a National Scholarship to the Royal College of Science (RCS). He was top of his class in physics, and received the Associateship of the RCS in physics (first class) in 1899.

National Physical Laboratory and the Admiralty

After an additional year at the RCS, demonstrating and teaching, Smith joined the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in 1900, the year it was founded. He was appointed principal assistant in 1909 and superintendent of the electricity department in 1917. His work ethic was much influenced by that of the director, Sir Richard Glazebrook. Over a period of ten years he worked on the creation of "accurate electrical standards and methods of measurement", including devices to accurately measure amperes, ohms, and volts, as well as improvements to the Weston cell.

From 1914, Smith contributed to the NPL's war work. He invented the first magnetic mine for use against submarines. For this work, the Admiralty awarded him £2000.

Honours and awards

1899 ARCS, 1st class 1918 OBE 1918 FRS 1922 CBE 1925 Hughes Medal of the Royal Society 1926 CB 1926 Hon DSc University of Oxford 1927 Duddell Medal of the Physical Society 1930 Hon LLD University of Birmingham 1931 Hon LLD University of Aberdeen 1931 KCB 1934 Faraday Medal by the Institution of Electrical Engineers 1934 Gustav Canet Medal of the Junior Institution of Engineers 1936 Hon DSc University of Sheffield 1936 Charles Parsons Memorial Medal of North East Coast Engineers and Shipbuilders 1937 Fellow, Imperial College London 1938 Honorary Fellow, Institution of Civil Engineers 1938 Honorary Fellow, Institute of Physics 1939 GBE 1942 GCB 1947 USA Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm