Nuclear Museum Logo
Nuclear Museum Logo

National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Simeon T. Cantril

PhysicianHanford, WA

Oak Ridge, TN
Manhattan Project VeteranProject Worker/Staff

Simeon T. Cantril (1908-1959) was an American physician. He was born on February 17, 1908 in Hyrum, Utah. He was a graduate of Harvard Medical School. In 1938 he became the director of Swedish Hospital’s Tumor Institute. At Swedish Hospital, Cantril worked with Herbert Parker, with whom he worked throughout the Manhattan Project. 

Cantril was recruited as a medical advisor for the Manhattan Project. Cantril was working at the University of Chicago when Chicago Pile-1 went critical. He then served as medical director at Oak Ridge. 

Cantril later was the assistant medical director at Hanford. At Hanford, Cantril oversaw health physics research and developments in radiation monitoring. He and his staff also studied the effects of radioactive material on domesticated animals and vegetation.

Cantril died on September 10, 1959 in Orcas, Washington. 

Simeon T. Cantril’s Timeline
1908 Feb 17th Born in Hyrum, Utah.

1938 Became director of Swedish Hospital’s Tumor Institute.

1942 Began working on the Manhattan Project in Chicago.

1959 Sep 10th Died in Orcas, Washington.

Related Profiles

Gerald Cole

Tinian Island

Gerald Cole served with the 1st Ordinance Squadron in the 509th Composite Group at airfields in both Wendover, Utah and Tinian Island in the Pacific.

Bernard Erlanger

Los Alamos, NM

Bernard F. Erlanger was a technical adviser on the Manhattan Project who worked at Uravan, CO and at Los Alamos.

J. R. Wallace

Hanford, WA

B. H. Briggs

Hanford, WA