Beatrice Simpson

Beatrice Weir Simpson59 was born on 15 February 1893 in Inveravon, Banffshire, the daughter of James S. Simpson, an excise officer. Simpson completed her M.A. in 1913 and her B.Sc. in 1917. Following graduation, she was appointed temporary Assistant in the Chemistry Department upon the recommendation of Soddy.60 

From 1923 until her retirement in 1956, Simpson was on the staff of the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen. The Rowett Institute had been proposed in 1913 when a Joint Committee of the University of Aberdeen and the North Scotland College of Agriculture decided upon the need for an Institute for Research in Animal Nutrition however, research did not commence until 1919. Much of Simpson s work was concentrated on the role of iodine in nutrition.01 She died on 14 February 1981, aged 87 years. 

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In order to meet staff shortages in 1917, history was made by the appointment of the first women ever to hold official posts in the department. Miss Jeannie Ross and Miss Beatrice Simpson both joined the department as assistants during the winter term of 1917.. .. In 1918 Dr. Marion Richards took up the post of senior assistant in chemistry.48... 

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