Patrick Blackett was one of the most remarkable figures of his generation –
a highly distinguished member of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, winner of the Dalton Medal of the Society in 1948, Professor of Physics at Manchester University between 1937 and 1953 and Nobel Prize winner in 1948 for his work on subatomic particles.
Manchester based scientists played a major role in discoveries related to the atom. John Dalton was the first to show matter was made of atoms, which was reported to the Lit and Phil in 1803. A Manchester man, J. J. Thomson, discovered the electron in 1895. Ernest Rutherford, whilst Professor in Manchester, discovered that atoms had nuclei in 1913. He was then invited to the Chair of Physics in Cambridge where Blackett was his student. After a series of major discoveries under Rutherford, Blackett moved to Manchester as Professor of Physics in the Chair formerly held by Rutherford.
Early Life
Patrick Blackett was born in London in 1897, the son of a stockbroker. Many relatives on his father’s side were clergy whereas on his mother’s side there were servicemen and scientists. As a boy, he spent his home time constructing wireless sets and model aircraft. He was enrolled as a cadet at Osborne College on the Isle of White and later Dartmouth Naval College, both of which provided an excellent scientific and practical education fit for a future naval officer (and experimental scientist!). He was 16 at the outbreak of the First World War and served in the Navy as a cadet and officer, seeing action in the battles of the Falklands in 1914 – he was present at the sinking of the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau – and at Scapa Flow in 1916. At the end of the war, in 1919, the Navy sent 400 officers on a six-month course at Cambridge to complete their education. However, Blackett realised his intense interest in science soon decided to leave the Navy and rolled on the physics degree course.
Key Contributions and Achievements
After graduation in physics, Blackett moved to the Cavendish laboratory at Cambridge under Rutherford’s supervision. He soon developed a reputation not only as an inspired theorist, but also as a gifted experimentalist. One of his students was Robert Oppenheimer who hated ‘practicals’ it was rumoured that he was so disturbed by Blackett’s enthusiasm for them he tried to kill him using a poisoned apple. This episode was shown in the 2023 film ‘Oppenheimer’ where Blackett was played by James D’Arcy.
Blackett’s Nobel prize citation indicated that it was awarded for:
‘The development of the Wilson Cloud Chamber method and discovery therewith in the fields of nuclear physics and cosmic radiation’
The Cloud Chamber was a glass structure in a sealed environment of supersaturated vapour of water or alcohol. Charged particles entering the chamber produce tracts of small water droplets, for short periods which are photographed and identified as far as possible. Using the Chamber, Blackett demonstrated that when bombarded by alpha particles the structure of the nucleus of a nitrogen atom could be transmuted to oxygen, thus presaging the splitting of the atom during the World War Two. He also demonstrated that some electrons had a positive charge which was, with an American group (they published first and were awarded the Nobel prize), the first demonstration of antimatter. The positive particles were called positrons to distinguish them from negative electrons. These discoveries required the examination of thousands of photographs for each experiment and absolute application to decide on their importance and represented another major scientific advance.
Cosmic Rays
Blackett went on to investigate cosmic rays, ionised particles from space which approached the earth near the speed of light. Major modifications of the Cloud Chamber were required to detect the cosmic ray tracks including the use of Geiger counters to trigger photographs and large magnets to aid detection of the ion tracts. As a result of these studies, he discovered, with his departmental colleagues, several new subatomic particles, including the meson and others which, at the time, he called ‘strange particles’.
In 1953 Blackett chaired a major meeting of particle physicists to decide the veracity of the advances using the Cloud Chamber and to plan future investigations of particles that make up the structure of the Universe (including ourselves). This was one of the last of such ‘Cloud Chamber’ meetings before the widespread introduction of particle colliders.
Interestingly, Blackett helped promote CERN and the development of the Large Hadron Collider (LAH). This was/is a major undertaking involving over 10,000 scientists from around the world rather than working in small departments as in early days. However, many Professors in the current Department of Physics in Manchester remain involved, one of whom is Professor Brian Cox, the well-known broadcaster. A major success of the LAH was the discovery of the Higg’s Boson in 2012.
World War Two
During the Second World War, while maintaining links with the Manchester Department, Blackett undertook extensive work in applying scientific principles to the war effort. This included the design of aircraft sights, improving U-boat detection and the introduction of highly standardised operational methods which he devised. He also became Chief Advisor to the Director of Research in the Admiralty in 1942 and was the ‘go to’ person for advice.
Postwar higher education
Blackett continued his national political activity and was highly influential as a member of a committee which organised the first report. (Future of Scientific Policy [the Barlow Committee 1946]). For the Royal Society)] He went on to organise a national meeting in Manchester to institute University developments. He was a strong advocate of expansion and was the first to conceive that large departments required several new Professors and, at least, a fourfold increase in research staff. Of note was the appointment of Bernard Lovell who went on to develop the radio-telescope at Jodrell Bank. Blackett also helped facilitate the development of the first mainframe computer, headed by Kilburn and Williams, by engineering for the National Computer Centre to be established in Manchester. He also became the Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University.
After the war, Blackett’s scientific interest moved towards the origins of magnetism in rocks (geomagnetism). He had designed a magnetometer to test the hypothesis that the earth’s magnetism was dependant on the earth’s rotation. This was not the case, but he subsequently used the magnetometer to measure rock magnetism, which later helped support the hypothesis of continental drift: the formation of the continents by breakup of a single large continent (Pangea). This work continued in London after he left Manchester to take up the Chair of Physics at Imperial College in 1953.
Lit and Phil connection
Patrick Blackett, as an ordinary member, Council member, and Dalton Medallist of the Society, inspired others to join, including astronomer and future Dalton medallist Bernard Lovell.
Legacy and inspiration
Blackett was a tall slim figure with film star looks and great presence and it was said he rarely spoke unless there was something to say. He achieved lasting distinction in science and politics for future generations.
In science he gained the ultimate honour of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of subatomic particles and set up high class University Departments. He used his political skills to enhance scientific progress with great success.
Elected President of the Royal Society from 1965-1970, he was made Companion of Honour in 1965, awarded the Order of Merit in 1967 and made Baron Blackett of Chelsea in 1969.
Blackett had an extraordinarily creative and forward-looking intellect. He was a very kind man, supportive of the underdog, including students.
Tony Howell, member of Manchester Lit & Phil
Image Credit:
Patrick Blackett
by Walter Stoneman
negative, February 1942
5 5/8 in. x 3 7/8 in. (143 mm x 100 mm)
Given by Walter Stoneman, before 1951
Photographs Collection
NPG x5927
© National Portrait Gallery, London