Manson Benedict

Background

Benedict, Manson was born on October 9, 1907 in Lake Linden, Michigan, United States. Son of C. Harry and Lena I. (Manson) Benedict.

Education

Born in Lake Linden, Michigan, Benedict received a B.S. from Cornell University in chemistry, and worked for two years at National Aniline and Chemical Co. before returning to graduate school, earning a Ph.D. from MIT in physical chemistry. It was at MIT where he met his wife Marjorie, who also received a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Career

National Research Council fellow chemistry, 1935-1936; research associate geophysics, Harvard, 1936-1937; research chemist, M.W. Kellogg Company, 1938-1943; in charge process design gaseous diffusion plant for uranium-235, Kellex Corporation, 1943-1946; director process development, Hydrocarbon Research, Inc., 1946-1951; technical assistant to general manager, Atomic Energy Commission, 1951-1952; professor nuclear engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1951-1969; Institute professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1969-1973; professor emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, since 1973; head department nuclear engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1958-1971; director, Burns & Roe, Inc., 1979-1985. Science advisor National Research Corporation, 1951-1958, director, 1962-1967. Member general advanced.com.

Atomic Energy Commission, 1958-1968, chairman, 1962-1964. Director Atomic Industrial Forum, 1966-1972. Member energy R & D advisory county Federal Energy Administration, 1973-1975.

Achievements

• He received many awards for his work on the Manhattan Project during World War II, and for his later career as a scientist, educator, and public servant, which focused on nuclear power and other peaceful uses of atomic energy. Among his awards were: the William H. Walker award in 1947, the Perkin Medal in 1966, the Robert E. Wilson Award in 1968, the Enrico Fermi Award in 1972, and the National Medal of Science from President Gerald Ford in 1975. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1952.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Nuclear Chemical Engineering (McGraw-Hill series in nuclear engineering)

    (Book by Manson Benedict, Thomas H. Pigford, Hans Wolfgang...)

  • Nuclear Chemical Engineering 1ST Edition
  • Nuclear Chemical Engineering (McGraw-Hill series in nuclear engineering) Hardcover - April 1, 1981

Membership

Fellow: American Institute of Chemical Engineers (William H. Walker award 1947, Founders award 1965), American Philosophical Society, American Academy Arts and Sciences, American Nuclear Society (president 1962-1963, Arthur H. Compton award). Member: National Academy of Sciences, National Academy Engineering (Founders award 1976), Country Club Naples (Florida), Weston Golf Club (Massachusetts), Sigma Xi.

Connections

Married Marjorie Oliver Allen, July 6, 1935 (deceased 1995). Children: Mary Hannah (Mistress Myran C. Sauer, Junior), Marjorie Alice (Mistress Martin Cohn).