Philip James Yorke

Philip James Yorke (13 October 1799 – 14 December 1874) was a British Army officer, scientist and Fellow of the Royal Society. Yorke was a founder of the Chemical Society in the United Kingdom.

Life Yorke was born on 13 October 1799, the eldest son of Philip Yorke and Anna Maria, daughter of Charles Cocks, 1st Baron Somers. One of his paternal great-grandfathers was Earl of Hardwicke.

At age nine, Yorke went to study under Dr. Pearson in Surrey. At age 12, he entered Harrow School in London. In 1810, Yorke left Harrow and purchased a commission in the Scots Fusilier Guards. He remained with the Guards until 1852 eventually becoming a Lieutenant-Colonel. He was then appointed Colonel of the disembodied Herefordshire Militia, a post he held for three years while the regiment was embodied for home defence in the Crimean War.

On 27 April 1843 Yorke married Emily Clifford, the youngest daughter of William Morgan Clifford of Perrystone, Herefordshire. Yorke died on 14 December 1874. Yorke was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1849. He became vice-president of the Chemical Society in 1852 and served as president from 30 March 1853 to 30 March 1855.