Michael Elliott (chemist)

Michael Elliott, CBE, FRS, FRSC (30 September 1924 – 17 October 2007) was a chemist and Lawes Trust Senior Fellow at Rothamsted Experimental Station who invented and commercialised the development of novel insecticides known as pyrethroids.[1][2][3][4]

Michael Elliott
Born(1924-09-30)30 September 1924
Died17 October 2007(2007-10-17) (aged 83)
Alma materUniversity of Southampton

Education edit

Elliott was educated at The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells and the University of Southampton where he was awarded Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.[when?][5]

Research and career edit

Elliott led the team that invented the major pyrethroid insecticides bioresmethrin, permethrin, cypermethrin and deltamethrin.[6][7] In 2009 it was estimated that pyrethroid-treated mosquito nets significantly decreased the number of deaths due to malaria.[6]

Awards and honours edit

Elliott was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1979[6] and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1982.[5] He was awarded the Wolf Prize in Agriculture in 1989.

References edit

  1. ^ Elliott, M.; Janes, N. F. (1978). "Synthetic pyrethroids? A new class of insecticide". Chemical Society Reviews. 7 (4): 473. doi:10.1039/cs9780700473.
  2. ^ Elliott, M.; Farnham, A. W.; Janes, N. F.; Needham, P. H.; Pearson, B. C. (1967). "5-Benzyl-3-furylmethyl Chrysanthemate: a New Potent Insecticide". Nature. 213 (5075): 493–494. Bibcode:1967Natur.213..493E. doi:10.1038/213493a0. S2CID 4255634.
  3. ^ Elliott, M.; Farnham, A. W.; Janes, N. F.; Needham, P. H.; Pulman, D. A.; Stevenson, J. H. (1973). "A Photostable Pyrethroid". Nature. 246 (5429): 169–170. Bibcode:1973Natur.246..169E. doi:10.1038/246169a0. PMID 4586114. S2CID 4176154.
  4. ^ Elliott, M.; Farnham, A. W.; Janes, N. F.; Needham, P. H.; Pulman, D. A. (1974). "Synthetic insecticide with a new order of activity". Nature. 248 (5450): 710–711. Bibcode:1974Natur.248..710E. doi:10.1038/248710a0. PMID 4833277. S2CID 4150273.
  5. ^ a b "ELLIOTT, Dr Michael". Who's Who & Who Was Who. Vol. 2016 (online Oxford University Press ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  6. ^ a b c Pickett, John (2016). "Michael Elliott CBE. 30 September 1924 — 17 October 2007". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society. 62. London: Royal Society: 109–123. doi:10.1098/rsbm.2016.0018.
  7. ^ Farnham, Andrew (2007). "Obituary: Michael Elliott, Chemist whose research led to modern insecticides". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.