Rex Richards (chemist)

Sir Rex Richards
Born	Rex Edward Richards (1922-10-28) 28 October 1922 (age 94) Colyton, Devon, England
Institutions	University of Oxford University of Exeter
Doctoral students	Ray Freeman
Known for	Vice Chancellor of University of Oxford (1977–1981) Chancellor of the University of Exeter
Notable awards	FRS Davy Medal (1976)

Sir Rex Edward Richards FRS, FRSC, FBA (born 28 October 1922) is a British scientist and academic. He has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a director of the Leverhulme Trust.

Richards was educated at Colyton Grammar School, then proceeded on to St John's College, Oxford where he was awarded a first class Bachelor of Arts degree in 1945 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 1948.

After graduating Richards stayed at the University as a Fellow in Chemistry at Lincoln College from 1947–64. In 1964 he succeeded Sir Cyril Hinshelwood as Dr Lee's Professor of Chemistry at Exeter College. In 1969, he became Warden of Merton College. Richards held the post of Vice Chancellor of the University from 1977–81 and was Director of IBM (UK) Ltd from 1978–83 and Director of the Leverhulme Trust from 1984–93. He was President of the Royal Society of Chemistry for two years, and the Royal Society awarded him the Davy Medal in 1976 and the Royal Medal in 1986. He was knighted in 1977. He was also Chancellor of the University of Exeter from 1982 to October 1998. A painted portrait of Sir Rex Richards by Allan Ramsay hangs in the Senate and Council Chamber, Northcote House, University of Exeter, and another by Bryan Organ in Merton College, Oxford.