John Cadogan

Sir John Ivan George Cadogan (8 October 1930 – 9 February 2020) was a British organic chemist and Director General of the Research Councils until 1998.

Early life Cadogan was born in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire, Wales, United Kingdom. He was educated at Swansea Grammar School, where he achieved State Scholar in 1948, and at King's College London, where he earned a 1st Class Honours degree as well as a PhD, and was awarded the Millar Thomson Medal, and the Samuel Smiles Prize.

Interests Cadogan was particularly interested in the popularisation of science. He calculated that he had given live lecture demonstrations to over 10,000 school children and many more via television. He took part in the first live satellite telecast from London to New Zealand, at which time he treasured the sight of more TV vans outside the Royal Institution than even outside the Arms Park for a Wales-England match. He was a Liveryman of the Salters' Company and a director of the Salters' Institute whose considerable charitable works are dedicated to the improvement of teaching of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. He was a Freeman of the City of London. of the Royal Academy of Engineering.