Frederic Nathan

Colonel Sir Frederic Lewis Nathan, KBE, (1861–1933) was a chemical engineer who played a major part in the supply of munitions in the UK during the First World War.

Early life and education Nathan was born 10 February 1861, the son of Johan Nathan. Being a Jew, he did not have access to leading British public schools, so was educated privately, before entering the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. specialising in ordnance, helping to develop the magazine rifle his last post being Superintendent of the Royal Gunpowder Factory, Waltham Abbey.

After the war he joined the government Department of Scientific & Industrial Research, being in charge of fuels research and later in a subcommittee on explosives in mines.

Institution of Chemical Engineers He was one of the principal proponents of the formation of an Institution of Chemical Engineers and one of its founder members in 1922, becoming vice-president and then the second President 1925–7, an active member until his death and particularly concerned with education.

Personal life In 1888 he married Adeline Edith Sichel, and they had four sons, one of whom was killed in action.

He was active in the Boy Scouts Association, being commander of the Jewish Lads Brigade, and a member of the Jewish Historical Society He was on the management committee of the Royal Institution. He was Chairman of the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaux.

He died at home in Cornwall Gardens, London on 10 December 1933. He also received the Russian Order of Saint Anna.