Winifred Barker Munroe

Notes:

Ref. (1) says Winifred was born 18 Mar 1844. This is clearly an error.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 14-1/10-22-31 - p. 399

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Winifred married Charles Henry Mathews on 21 Apr 1910. Charles was born on 31 May 1882; died in 1952. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In 1871, Charles graduated summa cum laude at Harvard University receiving his B.S. degree. In 1894, he received his PhD from Columbia University, which was later renamed George Washington University.

He served as an assistant in chemistry at Harvard 1871-1874 where he established the first course in chemical technology in 1872, and the first summer school in chemistry in 1873. He was professor of chemistry at the U.S. Naval Academy 1874-1886, and chemist of the U.S. Naval War College and Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island 1886-1892.

In 1892, Charles began a quarter of a century with George Washington University as professor of chemistry. In 1892-1898, he was Dean of the Corcoran Scientific School. In 1893-1917, he was Dean of the faculty of graduate studies, which he established.

Charles retired in 1918 with the title of Professor and Dean Emeritus. In 1906-1919, he was consulting chemist on explosive effects. In 1919-1933, he was chief explosives chemist of the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

At various times in his life, he was a member of the U.S. Naval Academy (1898), organizer and director of a volunteer torpedo corps on Analostan Island in the Potomac River, consulting expert to the engineering board on defense of Washington (1898), expert special agent in charge of industries of the U.S. for the Census (1900, 1905, 1910), consulting expert for the U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Mines and the Civil Service Commission, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the American Railway Association for the drafting of regulations covering the transportation of explosives (1905), superintendent of the denatured alcohol exhibit and member of the jury on chemicals at the Jamestown, Virginia exposition (1907), chairman of the committee on explosives investigations of the National Research Council (1918-1928), consulting specialist on explosives for U.S. Forest Service (1934-1938).

In 1889, Charles started experiments with smokeless powder used by the US Navy for large guns. While at Newport station, he discovered the "Munroe effect," by which letters sunk in a gun-cotton cube are indented on a steel plate when the cube is detonated against it, or if the letters are raised above the surface of the cube and placed in contact with the steel plate at detonation, they are reproduced in the plate in relief. The "Munroe effect" threw light on the nature of the detonation wave.

Charles invented indurite, and originated the porous cone for filtration, the platinum filter, or the Munroe crucible, used in atomic weight determination and other precise works, and a method for the preparation of catalysts.

Recognized as a leading authority on explosives, he was the author of more than 100 books and papers in the field. He was an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Chemists, a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Chemical Society of London, American Academy of Arts and Sciences and Society of Chemical Industry of Great Britain, charter member of the American Chemical Society (president, 1895-1896) and Washington Academy of Sciences. He was also a member of the Cosmos (president, 1913), Chevy Chase and Harvard Clubs of Washington, D.C., the University, Metropolitan and National Arts clubs of New York City, Reading Room of Newport, Rhode Island, the Boston City and Papyrus Clubs of Boston, Sons of the American Revolution and Chi Sigma. He was made a commandant of the American Revolution and Chi Sigma. He was made a commandant of the order of Mejidieh by the Sultan of Turkey in 1901. The honorary degree of L.L.D. was conferred on him by George Washington University in 1912. In 1900 he was appointed by the Swedish Academy of Sciences to nominate a candidate for the Nobel prize in chemistry.

In religion, Charles was a Unitarian and in politics, he was a Republican. His love for his profession and for his fellow men and his unfailing consideration for others were his dominating personal characteristics. For recreation, he enjoyed tramping, camping and riding.

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The following is from "Clan Munro" compiled by Alan McNie, published in Jedburgh, Scotland. It is from the chapter entitled "Some Clan Notables".

Munroe, Charles E. (1849-1938) Munroe became a pioneering chemical engineer in America. He was descended from a Scottish nobleman. In college he invented a clay filter, widely used by analysts. He as chemist to the Torpedo Corps 1886-92 and there discovered smokeless powder. he conducted the first tests for the armor-piercing shell and discovered the basis later used for the bazooka and shaped charges.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 14-1/10-22-3 - p. 265, 397-399

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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Charles married Mary Louise Barker on 20 Jun 1883. Mary was born about 1851; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary was the daughter of George Frederick Barker.

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 14-1/10-22-3 - p. 399

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Birth:
Estimate: This birth date is an estimate based on the birth dates of nearest relatives or contemporaries, or based on other clues such as christening date, marriage date, birth order, etc.

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 14-1/10-22 - p. 265, 397

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Enoch married Emeline Elizabeth Russell on 29 Oct 1840. Emeline was born on 30 Sep 1818 in Townsend, Massachusets, USA; died on 1 Jan 1899 in Cambridge, Massachusets, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

References:

(1) "History and Genealogy of the Lexington, Mass. Munroes", 2nd ed. by R. S.
Munroe - Florence, Massachusetts (1986) - 14-1/10-22 - p. 265, 399

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

In 1808, William was living in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the part that is now Somerville. He was a wheelwright.

Ref: Lexington Munroes, 2nd ed. 14-1/10-2

William married Lucy Fost on 11 Oct 1813. Lucy was born on 2 Jul 1794 in Arlington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, USA; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]