Ann Horton

Ann Catherine Horton (née Davies, 7 April 1894 – 15 July 1967) was a British physicist and academic who was the first woman to be appointed to the lecturing staff of the Cavendish Laboratory.[1][2][3]

Ann Horton
Born
Ann Catherine Davies

7 April 1894
London, England
Died15 July 1967(1967-07-15) (aged 73)
Cambridge, England
Alma materRoyal Holloway College
SpouseFrank Horton
Scientific career
FieldsPhysics
InstitutionsRoyal Holloway College, Newnham College, Cavendish Laboratory
ThesisThe minimum electron energies associated with the excitation of the spectra of helium (1921)

Early life

Ann Catherine Davies was born in London on 7 April 1894, the daughter of merchant tailor Robert Davies.[1]

She studied Physics at Royal Holloway College,[1] where she received her bachelor in science in 1915[1] followed by her master's in science[4] and DSc.[1]

Career

Horton was employed as an Assistant Lecturer in Physics at Holloway while she conducted research for her doctorate,[4] and was later promoted to Staff Lecturer.[1]

Her research chiefly concerned radiation from and ionization potentials of the rare gases, and contributed to the verification of Niels Bohr's theory of stationary states.[1]

While a research student, she began working together with Frank Horton. The two collaborated on experiments measuring characteristic X-rays.[5] In 1921, their work called into question the conclusions drawn from the Franck–Hertz experiment, leading to an exchange of correspondence with James Franck that eventually concluded with all participants agreeing that the Franck–Hertz results had been correct.[6]

In 1922 she received the Ellen Richards Research Grant from the Association to Aid Scientific Research by Women.[7]

From 1935 she was a fellow and lecturer in physics at Newnham College, Cambridge,[1] and a university lecturer in physics at the Cavendish Laboratory.[1][3] From this point she carried out no further original research, but focused on teaching and administration. She was vice-principal of Newnham from 1936 to 1946,[1] a member of the trustees of Homerton College, Cambridge,[1] and a member of the Council of New Hall.[1]

She married her collaborator Frank Horton in 1939.[1][3]

Later life and legacy

She died in Cambridge on 15 July 1967.[1] In 1968, Cambridge founded the Ann Horton Visiting Research Fellowship at her bequest.[8]

References
  1. "Obituaries: Dr Ann Horton" (PDF). Nature. 215 (5106): 1211. 9 September 1967. doi:10.1038/2151211b0. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4206618. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  2. "Mrs. Horton demonstrating to A.B. Pippard in a Part II practical class (P323)". University of Cambridge Digital Library. University of Cambridge. 1940–1941. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  3. "Mrs Horton (Miss Ann Davies) (P817)". University of Cambridge Digital Library. University of Cambridge. 1960. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  4. Davies, A.C. (1921). The minimum electron energies associated with the excitation of the spectra of helium (Doctoral). Royal Holloway College. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  5. Fontani, Marco; Costa, Mariagrazia; Orna, Mary Virginia (2015). The Lost Elements: The Periodic Table's Shadow Side. Oxford University Press. p. 476. ISBN 9780199383344. OCLC 873238266.
  6. Lemmerich, Jost; Hentschel, Ann (2011). Science and Conscience: The Life of James Franck. Stanford University Press. p. 91. ISBN 9780804763103. OCLC 772737208.
  7. Lockyear, Norman, ed. (1922). "The Ellen Richards Research Prize". Nature. 109: 789. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  8. The Cambridge University Calendar for the Year 1973–1974. Cambridge University Press. 1974. ISBN 9780521203968. OCLC 650401611.
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