Edward Wight Washburn was born in Beatrice, Nebr. , one of the four children of William Gilmor and Flora Ella (Wight) Washburn. His ancestors, from Little and Great Washburn, England, settled in New England before 1626. His father moved from Houlton, Me. , to the frontier town of Beatrice, where he became a successful dealer in building supplies. Although the interests of the family lay chiefly in commerce, civic betterment, and politics, Washburn chose a career in chemistry.
An honor student in his high school (which taught no chemistry), he assembled a crude chemical laboratory where he produced explosions which brought parental orders to stop "all this foolishness. " At the University of Nebraska (1899 - 1901) he met his expenses by selling his thoroughbred pony and by tutoring. For a year he taught in the high school at McCook, Nebr. , then, because Nebraska could not give him the training he desired, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Here he had as teacher A. A. Noyes, and as associates, G. N. Lewis and R. C. Tolman. He was graduated B. S. in 1905 and Ph. D. in 1908, serving meanwhile as research associate.
A rare combination of methodical worker and keen and imaginative thinker, he showed in his graduate research work the promise of his later brilliance. His paper, "The Theory and Practice of the Iodometric Determination of Arsenious Acid" (Journal of the American Chemical Society, January 1908), was the fruit of a study particularly significant because it prompted the first thermodynamic treatment of "buffer" solutions, so important in later work on indicators. He made the first accurate measurement of true transference numbers and of the relative hydration of aqueous ions. In 1908 he went to the University of Illinois as associate in chemistry; two years later he was made assistant professor of physical chemistry, and in 1913, full professor. His accomplishments included the development of a " 'simple system of thermodynamic chemistry' by means of his 'perfect thermodynamic engine, ' the measurement of Faraday's constant with the iodine coulometer, and the development of a high precision viscosimeter and of apparatus for the precise measurement of the electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions of electrolytes". In 1915 he published a textbook, An Introduction to the Principles of Physical Chemistry. In 1916 he became head of the department of ceramic engineering, and he effectively applied the principles of physical chemistry and thermodynamics to this virgin field until 1922, when he was chosen editor-in-chief of the International Critical Tables of Numerical Data: Physics, Chemistry and Technology. For four years he gave himself unsparingly to the exacting labors of preparing the seven volumes of these tables, the first of which appeared in 1926 and the last in 1930, thus making a notable contribution to science and technology. Assuming the leadership of the division of chemistry at the National Bureau of Standards in 1926, Washburn infused new life and activity into his department, initiated a program of thermochemical research, instituted and directed an extensive project on petroleum research, was responsible for the isolation of the first crystals of rubber, and found time to make many personal contributions to science.
In December 1931 he made his most notable discovery - the fractional electrolysis of water with respect to the isotopes of hydrogen, a discovery which revealed new possibilities in physical, chemical, and biological research. For this achievement he was awarded the Hillebrand prize of the Chemical Society of Washington. He was the author of approximately a hundred scientific papers; was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Research Council, and numerous professional societies; and carried a tremendous burden of assignments on scientific committees of national and international scope.
He was well informed, and eagerly discussed their own subjects with experts in many fields. Quiet, friendly, yet reserved, by his ability, fairness, and dignity he at once commanded admiration and respect.
On June 10, 1910, he married Sophie Wilhelmina de Veer of Boston, by whom he had four children.
