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National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Herbert Lawson

ChemistWashington, DC

Scientist

Herbert Lawson was an American chemist.

Lawson was born in 1905 in New York City. He received a B.S. in chemistry from Tufts University.

Throughout his career, Lawson worked on the development of batteries. During World War II, he worked for Section T of the Office of Scientific Research and Development at the Carnegie Institution of Washington and at Johns Hopkins University. During his time there, he worked as a research chemist developing the electrochemical phase of the battery used in the proximity fuse. For his efforts during the war, Lawson received a certificate of merit from the Office of Scientific Research and Development, the Naval Ordnance Development Award, and the Army-Navy Certificate of Appreciation.

He worked at the Zenith Radio Corporation, was the president of the Beacon Battery Company, then later moved to Southern California in 1955, where he went to work for Aerojet-General Corporation. He was granted 8 patents, dating from 1937 to 1950. He died of lung cancer in 1963.

Herbert Lawson’s Timeline
1905 Feb 9th Born in New York City.

1927 Received a B.S. from Tufts University.

19431945 Worked for the Office of Scientific Research and Development.

1945 Received a certificate of merit from the OSRD.

1949 Received the Army-Navy Certificate of Appreciation.

19521955 Was the owner of the McAllen Battery Company.

Letter confirming Herbert Lawson’s hiring as a chemist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Letter confirming Herbert Lawson’s transfer to Johns Hopkins University.

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