Frederick Lindemann, 1st Viscount Cherwell
professor (Lord Cherwell) Frederick Alexander Lindemann (1886-1957) was a physicist who was a scientific adviser to the British government and a close associate of Winston Churchill. He wrote a paper for the British war time government which advocated the carpet bombing of Geman cities.
- 1886 He was born in the German town of Baden-Baden.
- He attended the University of Berlin and at the Sorbonne he carried out research into the problems of atomic heat that confirmed the theories first put forward by Albert Einstein.
- 1911 he contributed to the study of specific heats at very low temperatures by constructint a calorimeter.
- 1914 Lindemann joined the Royal Flying Corps (The forerunner of the RAF). He developed the mathematical theory of aircraft spin, which was quickly put into practice in air combat, while he was director of the Experimental Physics Station at Farnborough.
- Between the wars Lindermann was a professor of experimental philosophy at Oxford University and director of the Clarendon Laboratory.
- Winston Churchill the British World War II Prime minister liked and trusted Lindermann. He appointed him the British governments leading scientific adviser with a seat in the Cabinet.
- 1942 He presented the Cabinet with a paper advocating the area bombing of Geman cities in a strategic bombing campign. This was the most contriversial paper he ever presented and the action he for which he is best rembered. The Cabinet approved the stratagy which became an important part of the total war waged against Germany. It was implemented with great vigour by Air Chief Marshal "bomber" Harris as officer commanding RAF Bomber Command.
- 1945 he returned to his post at Oxford University and the Clarendon laboratory. He continued to advise the government on nuclear research and created the Atomic Energy Authority.
- 1956 he was created the Viscount of Cherwell
- 1957 he died.
Biography
The Official Life of Professor F. A. Lindemann by Frederick Furneaux-Smith (1961)
