Bloxam, Arthur George

Arthur George Bloxam (1866-1940) was killed as the result of enemy action on November 7th, 1940, in his 75th year. From 1882 he studied Chemistry under his father’ s successor, Professor J. Millar Thomson, at King’ s College, and continued there as demonstrator until, in 1887, he became chief assistant to Professor Edward Kinch at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. In 1891, at the early age of 25, he was appointed head of the chemistry department of the Goldsmiths’ Institute, New Cross, and, assisted by his cousin, Hugh Charles Loudon Bloxam, who died in July, 1940, made the new establishment an almost immediate success as an evening school for Honours students. His teaching was very thorough, somewhat ambitious for those days, and did credit to the well-endowed laboratories. He prepared the way for the brilliant researches in stereo chemistry of his successor, the late Sir William Jackson Pope. In 1897 Bloxam relinquished academic chemistry in favour of applying his ability to patent law, in which he became an outstanding authority, especially as related to the synthetic dye and chemical industries. He was President of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents in 1926-1927, having previously served several periods as a Member of the Council of that Institute, and of its Board of Examiners. He was elected an Associate of the Institute of Chemistry in 1887, and a Fellow in 1891, and served as a Member of its Council, 1914-1915. In 1902 Bloxam married Winifred, a daughter of Mr. A. B. Shapland of Barnstaple. They had a son and five daughters, one of whom, Mrs. McCormick, was killed at the same time as her father. Much of his leisure was spent with his family, which was undoubtedly his chief interest in life. He was reserved, but to those who knew him he was a man of strong personality, chivalrous, kind, courageous, and ready to help those who sought his advice or sympathy. His friendship was precious to those who were fortunate enough to enjoy it, to none more, perhaps, than to the writer. He was a keen Churchman on the Evangelical side of the Church of England, and took an active part in the lay administration of the churches with which he was connected. He was a voracious reader, especially of Dickens and the Victorian novelists. He took little interest in any hobby or sport except walking, which helped to foster his delight in the beauties of nature. He had a lively sense of humour. His experience of the general principles and progress of chemistry was kept fresh by his editing five editions of “ Bloxam’ s Chemistry,” first in association with Professor Thomson, and later with Dr. S. Judd Lewis. Many paragraphs in “ Bloxam” were contributed by him as an outcome of his experience of modern developments. He edited also “ Laboratory Teaching,” which reached a sixth edition, and was joint author with the late Mr. Bertram Blount of “ Chemistry for Engineers and Manufacturers” . Most of his contributions to current literature had reference to patent law and its association with chemical inventions. He became a Fellow of the Chemical Society in 1888. S. Judd Lewis, Journal Of The Chemical Society.

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