Raymond Smallman

Raymond Smallman CBE, FREng, FRS^[2] (4 August 1929 – 25 February 2015) was a British metallurgist and academic known for his research into alloys and the causes of metal fatigue.^[1] Smallman was also a significant figure at the University of Birmingham, serving as its vice-principal between 1987 and 1992 and helping to establish its reputation as a leading modern research university.^[3][4]

Early life and education

Smallman was born in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, the third of five children of a working-class couple.^[3] Smallman spent much of his childhood near Cannock, Staffordshire, working at his father's fish and chips shop while his father served with the Royal Air Force during World War II.^[3] Between 1939 and 1947, Smallman attended a grammar school in Rugeley, Staffordshire, on a scholarship.^[3] He then obtained a first-class honours degree in metallurgy at the University of Birmingham, supervised by Alan Cottrell.^[1] Smallman completed his PhD on the structure of cold worked metals, again under Cottrell's supervision, in 1953.^[3]

Research and career

After completing his doctorate, Smallman went to work as a metallurgical researcher at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment (AERE) in Harwell, Oxfordshire.^[1] At AERE, Smallman and his colleagues were among the first to study the structure of metals using electron microscopy, discovering previously unknown microstructures and defects including dislocation "loops".^[1] In 1958, in collaboration with scientists from Cambridge's Cavendish Laboratory, Smallman published a groundbreaking paper on these dislocations, which provided key evidence for an emerging theory of metal fatigue with important implications for metallurgy and engineering.^[1]

Thereafter, Smallman returned to the University of Birmingham as a lecturer in physical metallurgy, and oversaw the development of a highly successful metallurgical research team.^[3] In 1964, he was appointed Chair of Birmingham's Department of Physical Metallurgy, becoming the Head of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials in 1980.^[1] In 1985, Smallman oversaw the founding of an independent, research-focused Faculty of Engineering at Birmingham, and subsequently became the new faculty's Dean.^[1] ISmallman was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1986,^[2] and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1991.^[1]

In 1987, Smallman became the Vice-Principal of the university, a position he held until 1992.^[3] As Vice-Principal, he implemented numerous university-wide administrative and academic reforms, and helped to strengthen the university's links to industry and commerce.^[1] Smallman's reforms were credited with helping to raise Birmingham's national and international profile as a major research university.^[1] In 1992, Smallman was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.^[3] In his later years, Smallman was a visiting lecturer at numerous universities and scientific societies worldwide.^[3]

Personal life

Smallman married Doreen Faulkner in September 1952.^[3] They remained married for the rest of Smallman's life; she survived him, as did their two children.^[1]

References