Arthur Vogel (chemist)

Arthur Israel Vogel (22 December 1905 – 1966) was a British chemist known for his Chemistry textbooks.

He became the head of the chemistry department at Woolwich Polytechnic at the age of 27.

Vogel's first job was at Queen Mary University of London, continuing from his BSc, working with Professor J. R. Partington and achieving an MSc.

After a short spell at University College London, he joined Imperial College London and the research school of Sir Jocelyn Field Thorpe.

During his time there he received a D.Sc for his research on surface tension, electrochemistry, organic synthesis and sulphur chemistry.

They emigrated to England in 1908 and lived at Wellclose Square, Tower Hamlets, London.

He was educated at Davenant Foundation School in Whitechapel, before studying at Queen Mary University of London, where he graduated with First Class Honours in chemistry.

After a short departure from academia with a foray into industry, Vogel joined the Hartley University College in 1930 as a lecturer of science.

Two years later he joined the Woolwich Polytechinic as the Lecturer-in-Charge at 27 years old, a role that evolved into the Head of Chemistry.

During this time the Polytechnic became an Institution with Recognised Teachers of the University of London.

During the 1940s Vogel formed the Woolwich Polytechnic Chemical Society, which organised lectures with world renowned scientists.

Vogel was hugely influential with his textbooks making practical chemistry text available globally.

Vogel's textbooks included:

These works were revised and translated in numerous editions and so became classics in the field.

After Vogel died, further revisions were made by new authors.

For example, the Textbook of Qualitative Chemical Analysis continued as the Textbook of macro and semimicro qualitative inorganic analysis with a new edition by G. Svehla in 1979.

Vogel was born in Dębica, Poland, to an orthodox Jewish family.