CHEMIST
Willis R. Whitney
1868 - 1958

Willis R. Whitney
Willis Rodney Whitney (August 22, 1868 – January 9, 1958) was an American chemist and founder of the research laboratory of the General Electric Company. He is known as the "father of industrial research" in the United States for blending the worlds of research and industry together; which at the time, were two very distinct careers. He is also known for his corrosion theory of iron which he developed after studying at M.I.T. and the University of Leipzig. Whitney was also a professor at M.I.T. for some time before his career transition into research directing. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 16 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 15 in 2024). Willis R. Whitney is the 586th most popular chemist (up from 597th in 2024), the 12,256th most popular biography from United States (up from 15,116th in 2019) and the 113th most popular American Chemist.
Memorability Metrics
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Among CHEMISTS
Among chemists, Willis R. Whitney ranks 586 out of 602. Before him are John George Children, Susan Solomon, Mary Engle Pennington, Martyn Poliakoff, Richard Zare, and Ching Wan Tang. After him are Marie Maynard Daly, Esther M. Conwell, Richard Lerner, Ruth R. Benerito, Donald Howard Menzel, and Sam Ruben.
Most Popular Chemists in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsJohn George Children
1777 - 1852
HPI: 51.60
Rank: 580
Susan Solomon
1956 - Present
HPI: 51.57
Rank: 581
Mary Engle Pennington
1872 - 1952
HPI: 51.51
Rank: 582
Martyn Poliakoff
1947 - Present
HPI: 51.23
Rank: 583
Richard Zare
1939 - Present
HPI: 51.06
Rank: 584
Ching Wan Tang
1947 - Present
HPI: 51.03
Rank: 585
Willis R. Whitney
1868 - 1958
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 586
Marie Maynard Daly
1921 - 2003
HPI: 50.14
Rank: 587
Esther M. Conwell
1922 - 2014
HPI: 50.09
Rank: 588
Richard Lerner
1938 - 2021
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 589
Ruth R. Benerito
1916 - 2013
HPI: 49.86
Rank: 590
Donald Howard Menzel
1901 - 1976
HPI: 49.23
Rank: 591
Sam Ruben
1913 - 1943
HPI: 49.09
Rank: 592
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1868, Willis R. Whitney ranks 195. Before him are Anna Missuna, Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, Lida Heymann, Ellen Roosevelt, Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford, and Horace Elgin Dodge. After him are Robert Edeson, Emily Murphy, Maude Abbott, Mariano Trías, and Philippa Fawcett. Among people deceased in 1958, Willis R. Whitney ranks 193. Before him are David Pegg, Alfred Probst, Billy Whelan, Tris Speaker, James Branch Cabell, and Archie Scott Brown. After him are Pat O'Connor, Alma Bennett, Eleanor Hallowell Abbott, Vilhelm Wolfhagen, Charles F. Kettering, and Clarence DeMar.
Others Born in 1868
Go to all RankingsAnna Missuna
GEOLOGIST
1868 - 1922
HPI: 53.12
Rank: 189
Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire
POLITICIAN
1868 - 1938
HPI: 52.79
Rank: 190
Lida Heymann
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1868 - 1943
HPI: 52.28
Rank: 191
Ellen Roosevelt
TENNIS PLAYER
1868 - 1954
HPI: 51.67
Rank: 192
Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford
POLITICIAN
1868 - 1933
HPI: 51.02
Rank: 193
Horace Elgin Dodge
BUSINESSPERSON
1868 - 1920
HPI: 50.39
Rank: 194
Willis R. Whitney
CHEMIST
1868 - 1958
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 195
Robert Edeson
ACTOR
1868 - 1931
HPI: 50.21
Rank: 196
Emily Murphy
SOCIAL ACTIVIST
1868 - 1933
HPI: 49.34
Rank: 197
Maude Abbott
PHYSICIAN
1868 - 1940
HPI: 48.86
Rank: 198
Mariano Trías
POLITICIAN
1868 - 1914
HPI: 48.73
Rank: 199
Philippa Fawcett
MATHEMATICIAN
1868 - 1948
HPI: 47.95
Rank: 200
Others Deceased in 1958
Go to all RankingsDavid Pegg
SOCCER PLAYER
1935 - 1958
HPI: 52.21
Rank: 187
Alfred Probst
ATHLETE
1894 - 1958
HPI: 52.13
Rank: 188
Billy Whelan
SOCCER PLAYER
1935 - 1958
HPI: 51.99
Rank: 189
Tris Speaker
ATHLETE
1888 - 1958
HPI: 50.91
Rank: 190
James Branch Cabell
WRITER
1879 - 1958
HPI: 50.64
Rank: 191
Archie Scott Brown
RACING DRIVER
1927 - 1958
HPI: 50.29
Rank: 192
Willis R. Whitney
CHEMIST
1868 - 1958
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 193
Pat O'Connor
RACING DRIVER
1928 - 1958
HPI: 50.17
Rank: 194
Alma Bennett
ACTOR
1904 - 1958
HPI: 50.05
Rank: 195
Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
WRITER
1872 - 1958
HPI: 49.92
Rank: 196
Vilhelm Wolfhagen
SOCCER PLAYER
1889 - 1958
HPI: 49.65
Rank: 197
Charles F. Kettering
INVENTOR
1958 - 1958
HPI: 49.25
Rank: 198
Clarence DeMar
ATHLETE
1888 - 1958
HPI: 48.91
Rank: 199
In United States
Among people born in United States, Willis R. Whitney ranks 12,259 out of 20,380. Before him are Jeff Jarrett (1967), Zach Roerig (1985), Audrey Hollander (1979), John Buford (1826), Amber Tamblyn (1983), and Bart Conner (1958). After him are Twyla Tharp (1941), William Alland (1916), Hope Emerson (1897), Brandon Call (1976), Ana Ortiz (1971), and Renée Richards (1934).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsJeff Jarrett
WRESTLER
1967 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,253
Zach Roerig
ACTOR
1985 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,254
Audrey Hollander
PORNOGRAPHIC ACTOR
1979 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,255
John Buford
MILITARY PERSONNEL
1826 - 1863
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,256
Amber Tamblyn
ACTOR
1983 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,257
Bart Conner
GYMNAST
1958 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,258
Willis R. Whitney
CHEMIST
1868 - 1958
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,259
Twyla Tharp
DANCER
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,260
William Alland
ACTOR
1916 - 1997
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,261
Hope Emerson
ACTOR
1897 - 1960
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 12,262
Brandon Call
ACTOR
1976 - Present
HPI: 50.26
Rank: 12,263
Ana Ortiz
ACTOR
1971 - Present
HPI: 50.26
Rank: 12,264
Renée Richards
TENNIS PLAYER
1934 - Present
HPI: 50.26
Rank: 12,265
Among CHEMISTS In United States
Among chemists born in United States, Willis R. Whitney ranks 113. Before him are Ira Remsen (1846), Benjamin Silliman (1779), Rachel Fuller Brown (1898), Susan Solomon (1956), Mary Engle Pennington (1872), and Richard Zare (1939). After him are Marie Maynard Daly (1921), Esther M. Conwell (1922), Richard Lerner (1938), Ruth R. Benerito (1916), Donald Howard Menzel (1901), and Sam Ruben (1913).
Ira Remsen
1846 - 1927
HPI: 51.96
Rank: 107
Benjamin Silliman
1779 - 1864
HPI: 51.83
Rank: 108
Rachel Fuller Brown
1898 - 1980
HPI: 51.79
Rank: 109
Susan Solomon
1956 - Present
HPI: 51.57
Rank: 110
Mary Engle Pennington
1872 - 1952
HPI: 51.51
Rank: 111
Richard Zare
1939 - Present
HPI: 51.06
Rank: 112
Willis R. Whitney
1868 - 1958
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 113
Marie Maynard Daly
1921 - 2003
HPI: 50.14
Rank: 114
Esther M. Conwell
1922 - 2014
HPI: 50.09
Rank: 115
Richard Lerner
1938 - 2021
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 116
Ruth R. Benerito
1916 - 2013
HPI: 49.86
Rank: 117
Donald Howard Menzel
1901 - 1976
HPI: 49.23
Rank: 118
Sam Ruben
1913 - 1943
HPI: 49.09
Rank: 119


















































