Alexander Edgar Douglas, 12 April 1916 - 26 July 1981

• Published in: Biographical memoirs of fellows of the Royal Society 1982-11, Vol.28, p.91-109
• Main Author: Herzberg, Gerhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption spectra; Emission spectra; Molecular spectra; Molecular spectroscopy; Molecules; Physics; Rotational spectra; Spectral bands; Spectroscopic analysis; Ultraviolet spectrum
• ISSN: 0080-4606; 1748-8494
• DOI: 10.1098/rsbm.1982.0004

Alexander Edgar Douglas was born on a farm near Melfort, Saskatchewan, on 12 April 1916, of Scottish descent. His paternal grandfather, Kenneth Douglas, as a young man was a shepherd in Scotland and Alex ’s father, Donald Douglas, was born in Inverness in October 1879. A few years later the family moved to Watton at Stone in Hertfordshire (England) where they rented a substantial farm .The farm residence was Broome Hall which is still standing and has been named a heritage building. Donald Douglas attended school at Watton. After leaving school he worked for a while as a wheelwright but in 1904 emigrated to Canada. In 1905 he took up a homestead at Thaxted, near Melfort, Saskatchewan, in an area that was largely unpopulated at the time. Through the years he played a considerable role in founding and operating the local school, the local telephone company and the farmers ’ cooperative society. In 1909 he married Jessie Florence Carwardine. They had four children of whom Alex was the third . Donald Douglas and his wife remained on the same farm until 1945. Alex Douglas said of his father: ‘He was a quiet modest man who fitted the model of a Scottish Highlander (with absolute honesty and deep convictions). In spite of the harsh conditions of the time he loved the farm and country .’