Robert Rattray Tatlock (1837-1934), Public Analyst for Glasgow

Continuing the series of essays on exemplar Public Analysts from the 19th and early 20th centuries, the studies on Cameron (Ireland) and Wynter Blythe (southern England) are complimented by the present account of Tatlock of Scotland. Tatlock became an experienced expert witness and published a respectable number of papers including several on calibration and on international standards for sampling and analysis, topics that find contemporary resonance, as too do his studies on whisky. He was active and influential in several professional bodies becoming President of the Society of Public Analysts and the first President of the Association of Public Analysts for Scotland. In his wide general practice in analytical science and published studies he is shown to be an exemplar Public Analyst and a worthy forerunner of the highly regarded service provided by Scottish Public Analyst laboratories of today. Birth and Ancestors Robert Rattray Tatlock was born in Glasgow May 18 th, 1837, and died at Helensburgh on December 22nd, 1934 [1-3]. He was the eldest son of Robert Tatlock a manufacturer in Glasgow. On the maternal side he could trace his ancestors back to the early part of the seventeenth century. Education After his early education at Greyfriars’ School and at the Trades’ House School his ambition was to become an analytical chemist. He then studied chemistry with Dr. Fredrick Penny at Anderson’s College (now the University of Strathclyde). Later he was appointed chief assistant to Dr. Penny, a post he held from 1857- 1865. This was a private not an official college position. His obiturarist, his Fig 1 – Robert Rattray nephew, states that during this period his most important undertaking was the Tatlock, 1837-1934 analysis of over 100 exhibits in the trial of Dr. Pritchard in 1865 for murder. Pritchard, a medical practitioner, was found guilty of the killing, by poisoning, of his wife and of his mother-in-law and he was the last man to be publically hanged in Glasgow. The certificates were signed by, and given in evidence, by Tatlock’s employer, Dr. Penny [4]. Early Career – in Industry, as a Consultant Analyst and Teacher From 1865-67 he was a chemist at the Kames Gunpowder Factory, Kyles of Bute. In 1867 he began his career as an analytical and consulting chemist in Glasgow in a laboratory in George Street. Success came slowly, gained by determination and hard work. In addition to commercial analysis, classes were held for students, some of whom became famous such as Sir William Ramsay, who was a student in 1869. Later Ramsay wrote “In 1869 I entered the laboratory of Robert Tatlock, who had been assistant to Professor Penny. Mr. Tatlock was (and is) an eminent analytical chemist and during the year I had with him I had a course of qualitative analysis and got through a good part of quantitative analysis” [1, 5]. Other students of significance include Robert Addie (1870-1934) [6] and William Rintoul (1870-1936) [7]. In parallel with his private classes, Tatlock was a lecturer in chemistry at the Glasgow Mechanics’ Institute from 1873-1884 [8]. -38- Journal of the Association of Public Analysts (Online) 2011 39 38-43 D. Thorburn Burns Research and Publications Tatlock read his first paper, co-authored with James Chalmers (Chemist at the Kames Gunpowder Works), to the Chemical Section of the Glasgow Philosophical Society in 1860, on the gravimetric estimation of potassium [9]. Thereafter he produced a series of papers on a range of topics of concern to a public analyst. His later papers were co-authored with his nephew, Robert Tatlock Thompson. Many of his papers remain relevant even today, for example those on the calibration of glassware [10] and that “On the practicality of internationally establishing and maintaining standard methods of sampling and analysis” [11], cited not so long ago by Campbell as an exemplar on valid sampling [12]. In addition to his publications in the scientific literature, Tatlock held a Patent, Number 11,096 (1901) jointly with James Graham on “Improved Automatic Self-inflating Life Belt, Garment or Appliance” and his extensive verbal and written evidence to the Royal Commission on Whiskey and other Potable Spirits in 1908 was recorded in full [13]. Two of Tatlock’s methods were endorsed by Crookes in “Select Methods of Chemical Analysis” [14], namely those for the gravimetric determination of potassium and for mixed halogens. Crookes mentions, but with no references, that a Committee appointed by the chemical section of the British Association had looked into gravimetric determination of potassium as the platino-chloride. The three Committee Reports [15-17] record their approach to the problem that would still be acceptable in the present time. They sent a detailed circular questionnaire to all Fellows of the Chemical Society and to all gentlemen known to be interested in the subject. They received 37 positive replies and numerous declining to assist, such as: “Dear Sir, We are in receipt of your favour relating to the examination of phosphates and potash salts; but we must decline to give you the information required, as we do not think ourselves called upon to publish our methods of analysis, which we have perfected after long and careful investigation, for the benefit of those who have not taken the trouble. We are, dear sir, Yours obediently, &” Among those who had replied positively were: CA Cameron (Public Analyst, Dublin), CR Fresenius (Wiesbaden), W Galbraith (former chemist, Phospho-Guano Co., Liverpool), Wallace, Tatlock and Clark (Joint Public Analysts, Glasgow). The bulk of the section of the First Report dealing with potassium is the exchange of correspondence to the Committee, given in extenso, respecting a sample of “muriate” analysed independently by Professor Fresenius and Mr RR Tatlock. Despite excellent agreement, 56.10% potassium and 55.97% potassium, respectively, using basically the same basic method, both found fault over the fine details in each