Adam Gowans Whyte
Adam Gowans Whyte | |
|---|---|
| File:Adam Gowans Whyte.png | |
| Born | 1 August 1875 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 31 July 1950 (aged 74) Corsham, Wiltshire |
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow |
| Occupations |
|
| Employer | Rationalist Press Association |
| Spouse | Kate E. Whyte |
Adam Gowans Whyte (1 August 1875 – 31 July 1950)[1][2] was a Scottish journalist, author, and translator.[3] He was a well-known scientific journalist and regular contributor to the freethought press, and was a founder of the Rationalist Press Association.[4]
Life
[edit | edit source]Adam Gowans Whyte was born in Scotland in 1875, the seventh of nine children.[2][3] His father, a dentist, died when he was twelve years old.[3] He studied at Allan Glen's School, Glasgow, before attending the University of Glasgow in 1895.[2]
Whyte moved to London in 1898, where he earned a living as a journalist.[3]
Rationalist Press Association
[edit | edit source]In 1899, Whyte co-founded the Rationalist Press Association (RPA).[3] One of its original directors, he remained one until his death in 1950.[3][4][1]
In 1930, Whyte began contributing a section called "The Open Window" to the beginning of each issue of the RPA's Literary Guide under the pseudonym "Protonius".[3] He was later appointed Literary Advisor, earning a salary of £4000 a year, and played a significant role in selecting titles for Watts & Co. and their Thinker's Library until his death.[3]
Whyte also edited various electrical publications.[2] From 1901 until his retirement, he was editor of the Electrical Industries journal.[3]
Death
[edit | edit source]Whyte was the last surviving founder of the Rationalist Press Association.[1] He died suddenly on 31 July 1950.[1][5] Whyte was cremated on 3 August 1950 at Golders Green Crematorium, where the secular service was led by C. Bradlaugh Bonner.[1]
Selected bibliography
[edit | edit source]- Electricity in Locomotion, an account of its mechanism, its achievements and its prospects (1911)
- The Religion of the Open Mind (1913)
- The Natural History of Evil (1920)
- Stanley Baldwin: a biographical character study (1926)
- Forty years of electrical progress; the story of the G.E.C. (1930)
- Anthology of Errors (1940)
- The Danger of Being an Atheist (1940)
- Why Worry about Religion? A question for the new generation (1946)
- The story of the R.P.A., 1899-1949 (1949)
- The Ladder of Life: from molecule to mind (1951)
References
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