Background
FRANK, Frederick Charles was born on March 6, 1911 in Durban, S. Africa. Son of Frederick Frank and Medora Celia Emma (nee Read) Frank.
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Frederick Charles FRANK
Edit Profileengineer physicist university professor
Frederick Charles Frank, South African physicist. Decorated Created knight, Order British Empire; recipient Holweck prize, 1963, award, American Association Crystal Growth, 1978, Royal medal Royal Society, 1979, Grigori Aminoff medal, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1981, Von Hippel award, 1987; Honorary fellowship, Lincoln College, Oxford University, 1971.
Education
Bachelor; Bachelor of Science, Oxford University, 1933. Doctor of Philosophy, Oxford University, 1937. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Ghent, 1955.
Doctor of Science (honorary), University Bath., 1974. Doctor of Science (honorary), Trinity College, Dublin, 1978. Doctor of Science (honorary), University Warwick, 1981.
Doctor of Science (honorary), University Paris-Sud, 1987. Doctor, University Surrey, 1977. Doctor, University Leeds, 1992.
Career
He is best known for his work on crystal dislocations, including (with Thornton Read) the idea of the Frank-Read Source of dislocations. He also proposed the cyclol reaction in the mid-1930s, and made many other contributions to solid state physics, geophysics, and the theory of liquid crystals. During World World War II he joined the Chemical Defence Experimental Station at Porton Down, Wiltshire but in 1940 was transferred to the Air Ministry"s Assistant Directorate of Intelligence (Science) and spent the rest of the war with the Air Ministry.
After the war he moved to the University of Bristol Physics Department to do research in solid state physics, but switched to research on crystal dislocation.
His work with Burton and Cabrera was to demonstrate the role dislocations played in the growth of crystals. Apart from crystal defects, his wide-ranging research interests at Bristol included the mechanical properties of polymers, the theory of liquid crystals and the mechanics of the interior of the Earth.
He was appointed Reader in 1951, Melville Wills Professor in 1954 and Henry Overton Wills Professor and Director of the His (or Her) Highness Wills Physics Laboratory in 1969. He retired in 1976 but remained active in attending conferences, writing papers and corresponding with colleagues well into the 1990s.
Achievements
Membership
Fellow Institute Physics (Guthrie medal and prize 1982), Royal Society (vice president 1967-1969). Member Indian Academy Science, (foreign associate), Royal Society South Africa (foreign), Institute Metals, International Organisation Crystal Growth (president 1971-1977), Polymer Physics Society, United States National Academy Engineering (foreign associate), United States National Academy Science (foreign associate). Member Church of England.
Club: Athenaeum (London).
Interests
Connections
Married Maia Maita Asche, April 28, 1940.
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Born
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Died
April 5, 1998 (aged 87) -
Nationality
United Kingdom
Education
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1933
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1937
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1955
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1974
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1978
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1981
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1987
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1977
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1992
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Career
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1933 - 1936
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1937 - 1938
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1939
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1940
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1940 - 1947
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1969 - 1976
Awards
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Decorated Created knight, Order British Empire. Recipient Holweck prize, 1963, award, American Association Crystal Growth, 1978, Royal medal Royal Society, 1979, Grigori Aminoff medal, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1981, Von Hippel award, 1987. Honorary fellowship, Lincoln College, Oxford University, 1971.Decorated Created knight, Order British Empire. Recipient Holweck prize, 1963, award, American Association Crystal Growth, 1978, Royal medal Royal Society, 1979, Grigori Aminoff medal, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1981, Von Hippel award, 1987. Honorary fellowship, Lincoln College, Oxford University, 1971.