Sir John Jacob Fox
1 portrait of Sir John Jacob Fox
© National Portrait Gallery, London
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Sir John Jacob Fox
by Unknown photographer
bromide print, early-mid 1940s
5 1/2 in. x 3 5/8 in. (141 mm x 92 mm) overall
Given by the sitter's widow, Lady Fox, 1944
Photographs Collection
NPG x16277
Artistback to top
- Unknown photographer, Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 6584 portraits.
Events of 1940back to top
Current affairs
Following the German invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, Neville Chamberlain resigns and Churchill is appointed Prime Minister making the famous speech: 'I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.'The Battle of Britain ends the Phoney War with Germany's attack on the nation from the air. Britain's cities, airbases and ports are bombed during the Blitz.
Art and science
With little access to sculpture materials, and a bombed out studio Henry Moore starts experimenting with drawings of war subjects. After taking shelter in a London Underground station during an air raid Moore was inspired to begin a series of Shelter Drawings. With a commission from the War Artists Advisory Committee, headed by Kenneth Clark, these became some of the most popular example of official war art.International
Britain's attempt to defend France against German invasion by landing troops on the French coast ends in failure; France surrenders and Britain is left to face the Axis Powers alone. While the Dunkirk Landings were a failure, the heroic rescue of troops by a fleet of English civilian boats was a victory for morale, and the 'Dunkirk Spirit' came to stand as an emblem of British triumph in adversity.Comments back to top
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John Adrian Fox
07 April 2021, 16:14
Sir John Fox KB., OBE., CB., D.Sc., FRS was The Government Chemist from 1936 until his death on the 25th November 1944. His specialty was in analytical chemistry and he published alone or co-authored numerous papers on aspect of analysis of complex organic compounds. His earlier work for The Government Laboratory ranged from restoration of wall paintings in the Chapter house at Westminster to pollution of rivers by run-off. The Laboratory's contribution in both World Wars was considerable and is documented in "Weighed in the Balance" (HMSO 1992) , the official history of The Laboratory.
He was for some years President of The Royal Institute of Chemistry and a fellow of Queen Mary College.