Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Gore, George

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GORE, GEORGE (1826–1908), electro-chemist, born at Blackfriars, Bristol, on 22 Jan. 1826, was son of George Gore, a cooper in a small way of business in that city. He was educated at a small private school, from which he was removed at twelve to become an errand boy. At seventeen he was apprenticed to a cooper, following the trade for four years and supplementing his scanty education in his leisure hours. In 1851 he migrated to Birmingham, which was thenceforth his home. He first found employment at Birmingham as timekeeper at the Soho works, next as a practitioner in medical galvanism; he subsequently became a chemist to a phosphorus factory, afterwards (1870–80) was lecturer in physics and chemistry in King Edward's School, and finally, from 1880 onwards, was head of the Institute of Scientific Research, Easy Row, Birmingham, which Gore conducted privately, and where he resided for the remainder of his life.

Gore possessed an intuition for research, and passed triumphantly from one field of physical inquiry to another. Between 1853 and 1865 he published in the 'Philosophical Magazine,' 'Pharmaceutical Journal,' 'Journal of the Chemical Society,' and elsewhere thirty papers embodying researches in chemistry and electro-metallurgy. Three dealing with the properties of electro-deposited antimony were published in the 'Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.' Other important researches related to the properties of liquid carbonic acid and hydrofluoric acid. In 1865 he was elected F.R.S. (with the support, among others, of Faraday, Tyndall, and Joule) on the ground of being the discoverer of amorphous antimony and electrolytic sounds, and for researches in electro-chemistry.

Gore's discoveries in electro-metallurgy gave him a high reputation in Birmingham, where manufacturers eagerly availed themselves of new methods which he suggested for improving the art of electroplating. He was author of three valuable technical treatises: 'The Art of Electro-metallurgy' (1877; 5th edit. 1891); 'The Art of Scientific Discovery' (1878); 'The Electro-lytic Separation and Refining of Metals' (1890). To wider fields of speculation Gore contributed 'The Scientific Basis of National Progress' (1882) and 'The Scientific Basis of Morality' (1899), where he gave expression to strong materialistic views. The University of Edinburgh made him hon. LL.D. in 1877, and in 1891 he was allotted a civil list pension of 150l. Of frugal habits, apparently denoting restricted means, he secretly amassed a moderate competence. He died at Birmingham on 20 Dec. 1908, and was buried there at Warstone Lane cemetery. He married in 1849 Hannah, daughter of Thomas Owen, baptist minister, and had issue one son and one daughter. His wife predeceased him in 1907. By his will he directed that his residuary estate (about 5000l.) should be divided equally between the Royal Society of London and the Royal Institution of Great Britain, to be applied in 'assisting original scientific discovery.' In view of the public disposal of his property, his daughter, Mrs. Alice Augusta Gore Fysh, was granted in 1911 a civil list pension of 50l.

[Roy. Soc. Proc. vol. lxxxiv. A.; Roy. Soc. Catal. Sci. Papers; Nature, vol. lxxix.; The Times, 24 Dec. 1908 (will); Birmingham Daily Post, 24 Dec. 1908; Men of the Time, 1899; private information. For list of Gore's electrical researches, see Electrician's Directory, 1892.]