Perrin, Michael (1905-1988)

Perrin, Michael

SCIENTIST (ENGLAND)

BORN 13 Sep 1905, Victoria, British Columbia - DIED 18 Aug 1988, London
BIRTH NAME Perrin, Michael Wilcox
GRAVE LOCATION London: St John-at-Hampstead, Churchyard Extension, Church Row, Hampstead (A 005)

Michael Perrin was born in Victoria, British Columbia. His parents were English and the famiy moved to England in 1911. He was educated at Winchester College and studied chemistry at New College, Oxford and at the University of Toronto. He worked for Imperia Chemical Industries where he became assistant to its research director Wallace Akers (1888-1954).

In 1940-1941 Akers and Perrin participated in the MAUD Committee that concluded that it was feasible to build an atomoc bomb. Both joined the team that would design the bomb. England joined the Manhattan Project, but Perrin worked from London. He also investigated the German atomic bomb programma, using spies and interviewing Niels Bohr. After the war he brought Werner Heisenberg and his team to Britain for investigation.

After the war he worked for the government until he joined a private enterprise in 1951. He returned to his former employer ICI and he was also chairman of the charitable Wellcome Foundation until his retirement in 1970. In 1967 he was knighted.

Images
The grave of Michael Perrin at the Churchyard extension of St. John-at-Hampstead, London. Picture by Androom (30 May 2014)	The grave of Michael Perrin at the Churchyard extension of St. John-at-Hampstead, London. Picture by Androom (30 May 2014)