Abel, SIR FREDERICK AUGUSTUS

Abel, SIR FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, a well-known chemist, was born in London in 1827. He chiefly devoted himself to the science of explosives, expounding his discoveries and investigations in Gun-cotton (1866); The Modern History of Gunpowder; On Explosive Agents; Researches in Explosives; and Electricity applied to Explosive Purposes (1884). He further wrote, in conjunction with Colonel Bloxam, a Handbook of Chemistry. Some of his researches are mentioned in the articles GUN-COTTON, and GUNPOWDER. He has held important posts as chemist to the War Department and Ordnance Committees, and was made C.B. in 1877, K.C.B. and D.C.L. in 1883, and a baronet in 1893. He was appointed secretary to the Imperial Institute in 1887, and was president of the British Association in 1890.