Marcus Laurence Elwin Oliphant

Born at Kent Town, Adelaide, on 08 October 1901[1], Marcus “Mark” Laurence Elwin Oliphant studied physics at the University of Adelaide in 1919, graduating with a Bachelor of Science, First Class Honours in Physics, in 1923.[2]  He continued to work in the Physics Department, completing further research in between his duties as a laboratory assistant.

On May 23, 1925, Mark married Rosa Wilbraham.[3] 

In 1927 Oliphant won an 1851 Exhibitioner scholarship which allowed him to study nuclear physics with Sir Ernest Rutherford at the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.[4]

During the 1930s at the University of Birmingham, Oliphant and his team developed short-length radar and the resonant-cavity magnetron, the basis for portable radar in aircraft, and one of the key scientific advances in World War II, which was used for the detection of German submarines.[5]

During World War II, Oliphant strongly promoted the use of the atomic bomb to the United States government.  He was instrumental in the establishment of the Manhattan Project and worked with that project from 1943, returning to England in 1945, before the atomic bomb was used at Hiroshima.[6] 

After the War, Oliphant would go on to oppose the use of atomic weapons in warfare, instead advocating for the use of atomic energy for peaceful purposes.[7]

In 1950 Mark Oliphant returned to Australia as first Director of the Research School of Physical Sciences at the new Australian National University.[8]  

Oliphant established the Australian Academy of Science, bringing together the most distinguished scientists from around Australia to form the Academy.  In 1954 the Queen founded the Academy when she handed a Royal Charter of Incorporation to Oliphant, its first President.[9]  

After retiring from the ANU in 1967, Oliphant became the Governor of South Australia in 1971 until November 1976.[10]

Oliphant was knighted in 1959 and awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia in 1977.[11] 

Sir Mark Oliphant died on July 14, 2000, aged 98 in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.[12]

Footnotes:

1. The Express and Telegraph 1901, 'Family Notices', The Express and Telegraph, 2 November, viewed 10 October 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article210531716>.

2. University of Adelaide 1923, 'Oliphant, Marcus Laurence Elwin', [Student card], University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1117. 

3. Marriage Certificate for Marcus Laurence Elwin Oliphant and Rosa Wilbraham, 23 May 1925. University of Adelaide. Rare Books and Manuscripts, MSS 92 O4775p, Series 1.

4. Cockburn, S and Ellyard, D 1981, Oliphant, the life and times of Sir Mark Oliphant, Axiom Books, Adelaide, p. 30.

5. Cockburn, S and Ellyard, D 1981, Oliphant, the life and times of Sir Mark Oliphant, Axiom Books, Adelaide, pp. 82-90.

6. Cockburn, S and Ellyard, D 1981, Oliphant, the life and times of Sir Mark Oliphant, Axiom Books, Adelaide, pp. 116-126. 

7. Cockburn, S and Ellyard, D 1981, Oliphant, the life and times of Sir Mark Oliphant, Axiom Books, Adelaide, p.129. 

8. Australian National University n.d., 'Our history & achievements', Australian National University, viewed 11 October 2022,
<https://science.anu.edu.au/about/our-history-achievements>.

9. The Sydney Morning Herald 1954, 'Royal Charter For Scientists', The Sydney Morning Herald, 17 February, viewed 12 October 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18410341>. 

10. Government of South Australia 2021, Previous Governors, Government House South Australia, viewed 10 October 2022,
<https://www.governor.sa.gov.au/the-governor/previous-governors>.  

11. Cockburn, S and Ellyard, D 1981, Oliphant, the life and times of Sir Mark Oliphant, Axiom Books, Adelaide.

12. The Telegraph 2000, ‘Professor Sir Mark Oliphant’ The Telegraph, July 18, viewed 10 October 2022,
<https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1349058/Professor-Sir-Mark-Oliphant.html>.