Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas, 1932-2020

Sir John was a distinguished chemist, renowned for his work in the science of catalysts and solid-state chemistry.  In 1978 he became 1920 Professor of Physical Chemistry in Cambridge and succeeded Jack Linnett as Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry (then a separate entity from the Department of Chemistry, which covered Organic, Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry).

In 1986 Sir John became Director of the Royal Institution in London and later Director of the Davy Faraday Research Laboratory. He returned to Cambridge in 1993 to become Master of Peterhouse, the first scientist to hold the position.  

In 2002 Sir John left Peterhouse and became Honorary Professor of Materials Science at the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy in Cambridge, which stated:

“Sir John was a regular presence in the Department, who could often be found in the tea room engaging in lively discussions with students, post-docs and academics alike. He remained active right up until very recently, despite his failing health. As recently as a month ago he was lecturing at an online black-tie event at the Science Museum in London, speaking about his recent book Architects of Structural Biology." 

Sir John Meurig Thomas authored more than 1200 scientific articles and several books, and was the recipient of numerous national and international awards. For his contribution to geochemistry, the mineral meurigite was named in his honour, and he was knighted in 1991 “for services to chemistry and the popularisation of science.”

He will be greatly missed by his family, his college, the University and the wider scientific community. There are plans for a memorial event to celebrate his life and achievements when conditions allow it.