William Draper Harkins

Who was William Draper Harkins?

William Draper Harkins was an U.S. chemist, notably for his contributions to nuclear chemistry. Harkins researched the structure of the atomic nucleus. His findings enabled, among other things, the development of the H-bomb.

Harkins was born in Titusville, Pennsylvania.

Harkins graduated with a PhD from Stanford University in 1908, and subsequently taught chemistry at the University of Montana from 1900 to 1912. He spent the rest of his career at the University of Chicago.

Harper correctly predicted the existence of the neutron in 1920, which was then discovered in an experiment by James Chadwick in 1932. In the beginning of the 1930s, Harkins, together with Martin Kamen, built a cyclotron. From experiments with this, he concluded that the sun might be powered by nuclear fusion.

Among his students were Calvin Souther Fuller and Robert James Moon, Jr..

Harkins died in Chicago. He is buried at Oak Woods Cemetery.