The first remarkable thing about Dublin born Robert Kane (1809 – 1890) is that it took him 7 years to complete a BA degree in Science at Trinity College, Dublin. He started the course aged 19 in 1828 but didn’t graduate until 1835.
Although this seems like a slow start to his scientific career, Kane achieved many things while studying for his degree:
He qualified to practice medicine and won a gold medal in doing so; successfully analysed the mineral arsenide of manganese and had it called after him (Kaneite); became a Professor of Chemistry; was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy; published a textbook on pharmacy; and founded a scientific journal that is still in print today.
Despite his in-depth study of medicine and pharmacy, Kane’s main scientific interest was always chemistry. He made many contributions to the field, including isolating acetone from wood spirit in 1836.
He was appointed lecturer in natural philosophy and later professor of chemistry at the Royal Dublin Society where he worked for 13 years. During this time he published a three-volume textbook on chemistry, which was to become a bestseller.
Outside of science, Sir Robert (he was knighted in 1846) advised the government about education, at a national and university level. He was also made Director of the Museum of Irish Industry and the first President of the Queens College Cork.
Overall, Robert Kane had a huge influence and impact on science and education in Ireland in the nineteenth century.
