Irvine Masson

Sir James Irvine Orme Masson FRS He is usually referred to in documents as J. I. O. Masson.

Life

Irvine Masson was born in Toorak, near Melbourne, the son of Sir David Orme Masson a professor of chemistry at Melbourne University, and his wife, Mary Struthers. He went to Melbourne Grammar School then Melbourne University, achieving a BSc with first class honours in chemistry in 1908. He began medical studies, but reverted to chemistry and in 1910 took up a scholarship in the subject at University College London joining the staff in 1913.

During the First World War he did explosives research at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, a practical experience very different from his previous academic work, but which had a major influence on his future research.

In 1952 he retired from Sheffield and moved to Edinburgh, where both he and his wife had other family connections.

He died in Edinburgh on 22 October 1962. He is buried in the Grange Cemetery in southern Edinburgh.

Family Masson was the paternal grandson of David Masson and Emily Rosaline Orme and maternal grandson of John Struthers. He was the nephew of Simon Somerville Laurie, Flora Masson and Rosaline Masson.

Masson was the brother of Marnie Bassett and Elsie Rosaline Masson.

In 1913 he married his first cousin, Flora Gulland (d.1960) sister of John Masson Gulland. Their children included David Irvine Masson