H. S. VAN KLOOSTER Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
STILL
engaged in research after his officialretirement a t the age of 70 in September, 1952, Hilmar Johannes Backer continues as acting head of the organic laboratory of the University of Groningen until the arrival of his successor, Arens, of the University of Bandoeng, Java. Born on January 13, 1882, in Dordrecht, where he received his early education, Backer entered the University of Leyden in 1902 and took his doctorate on July 6, 1911, with a thesis suggested by his promoter, Franchimont, a t that time the dean of organic chemists in Holland. After his promotion Backer continued his researches, partly in collaboration with Franchimont, and on May 22, 1913, he started his academic career as Privaat-docent with a public lecture on "Physical characteristics of organic compounds." After two years of outside activity, first in the municipal testing laboratory of The Hague and later in the laboratory of the Treasury Department in Amsterdam, he was appointed to the chair of organic chemistry a t the University of Groningen, one which had become
vacant through the death of the incumbent, J. F. Eykman. Backer's vision of the fut,nre of organic chemistry was aptly expressed in his inaugural address: "The power and the ideals of organic chemistry." Backer's newly built organic laboratory was opened in December, 1917, with a historical essay, "Old chemical instruments and laboratories from Zosimos to Boerhave." His long and fruitful work in Groningen has covered a period of 37 years, during which more than 70 doctoral theses were completed by his students. About 40 of these dealt with the chemistry of organic sulfur compounds. The results obtained have been published in the Recueil des travaux chimiques des PaysBas, to which Backer has been an active contributor for nearly 40 years. Backer played an important part in the official life of the University, and as Rector Magnificus he directed its affairs in the academic year 1930-31. He was an active member of the Dutch Chemical Society from its beginning. He seldom misses the annual meetings of the Society, which are held in July in one of the
MARCH, 1954
principal cities of Holland, and his many friends always eagerly welcome him and his sister, who often accompanies him, since he has never married. Perhaps he, like Bunsen, "never found time to do so." He has, however, a large "family" composed of his pupils and former students, for whom he has been and is still, in many respects, more than a father. He has taken his students by bicycle, boat, or train on numerous excursions nearby and far away. I n 1918 he established a student excursion club that organized study trips to Hanover, to the Harz mountains, to Czechoslovakia (in 1921), and to other countries. In 1951 at the seventy-fifth anniversary of the American Chemical Society, Backer managed to take five of his students along to participate in the meetings and trips organized for that occasion. During the war years, when academic activities were largely suspended, Backer, a t the risk of his life, helped students who had gone under cover. At the
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end of the occupation he was imprisoned for a short time and was ultimately set free by the advancing Canadian troops. At the recent semicentennial of the Dutch Chemical Society Backer received an honorary membership. The special issue of Chemisch Weekblad published on that occasion contains Backer's review of Dutch chemistry in the past 50 years, work in which he has been an active contributor for over 40 years. With characteristic modesty he mentions his own work in footnotes while giving full credit to that of his students. Well known outside his own country, Backer has lectured in Belgium, France, the United States, and elsewhere. He is a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Amsterdam and holds honorary degrees from the Universities of Ghent and Lille. His students have honored him on numerous occasions and their fervent hope is that he may he able to continue his fruitful work for years to come.
