Dr Courtenay Phillips

Dr Courtenay Phillips 1924-2022

The Department of Chemistry was sad to hear of the death of Dr Courtenay Phillips, Oxford Chemistry alumnus, former University Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, and Emeritus Fellow of Merton College.

Courtenay Phillips educated many generations of chemists and was a passionate and dedicated teacher.   He began his research career under the supervision of Dr B Lambert and went on to make important and internationally recognised contributions to the development of gas chromatography.  

Dr Phillips was a founder member of the discussion group that became The Chromatographic Society and published Gas Chromatography in 1956, the first textbook on the subject.  His book Inorganic Chemistry, written with RJP Williams and published in 1965, was a seminal textbook for inorganic chemists.  

Professor Tim Softley, former Head of the Department of Chemistry and Emeritus Fellow of Merton, has written a short article about Dr Phillips's life and work which can be read on the Merton College website.