Mary Corner (25 March 1899 – 4 November 1962), was a pharmacist, a worker in the British Cotton Industry and British Leather Manufacturers, Head of the Micro-analytical Section of the Chemical Research Laboratory, Vice-Chairman of the Microchemistry group and a founding member of the Microchemical Club.

Early life and education

Mary Corner was educated at Beulah House High School, Balham, London.^[1] As a child, Corner had an "unfortunate accident" and "burdened with a severe disability, and she had, in addition, more than the usual share of suffering and trouble."^[1]

Career

'The Towers' - where Corner worked for the British Cotton Industry Research Association

During the First World War, Mary worked in a pharmacy, entering Battersea Polytechnic a forerunner of the University of Surrey, in 1922 and graduating in 1927.^[1]

She obtained a position with the British Cotton Industry Research Association in Didsbury, Manchester, in 1928,^[1] working initially in the rayon department where she developed a fascination with microanalysis^[1] which resulted in a promotion to Head of the Microanalytical Section.^[1] Then, in 1945, she obtained a similar post with the British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association.^[1]

Two years later, Corner was invited to become Head of the newly formed Microanalytical Section of the Chemical Research Laboratory (later the National Chemical Laboratory).^[1]

In the 1930s, she became a founder member of the Microchemical Club (to be later joined by Isabel Hadfield).^[1]

In 1953, she was elected an Ordinary Member of the Council for the Society of Public Analysts and Analytical Chemists.^[2]

Death

At the time of her death on 4 November 1962, she was Vice Chair of the Microchemistry Group of the Society for Analytical Chemistry.^[1]

References