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Lloyd M. Pidgeon
Pidgeon was born in Markham, Ontario, but lived in a number of
Canadian cities where his father worked as a minister. He graduated
in 1925 as gold medalist in chemistry from the University of
Manitoba, and then studied at McGill University, obtaining his M.Sc.
in 1927 followed by a Ph.D. in 1929.
After several years at Oxford University, Pidgeon joined the National
Research Council of Canada, initially working on electrochemical
problems. During this period, he developed his wellknown
process for the production of magnesium metal of high purity, using
the reaction between calcined dolomite and ferrosilicon.
Practical commercial production still had to be proved, however. At
that stage, a group of prominent mining men from Toronto, R.J. Jowsey,
Thayer Lindsley and W.M. Segsworth,
became interested in the project and raised capital that enabled
Pidgeon to establish a pilot plant. After a year and a half, all
parties were convinced the method could be used commercially.
Pidgeon's discovery led to the formation of Dominion Magnesium, which
he joined in 1941 as a director of research. The plant is now owned
and operated by Timminco. Because of the demand for magnesium during
the Second World War, six magnesium plants were built throughout the
North American continent. Magnesium was used for a variety of
military efforts and was considered to be the metal of choice where
strength with lightness was required, as for example, in aircraft.
In 1943, Pidgeon was appointed professor and head of the department of
metallurgical engineering at the University of Toronto, a post he
held until his retirement in 1969. Because of his farreaching
influence and personal efforts, he built a strong graduate school in
the field of metallurgy, making it one of the best departments in
Canada, if not the world. He taught his students the importance of
sound science and professional responsibility, and thus played an
influential role in shaping Canada's mining and metallurgy industry
as we know it today.
Throughout his distinguished and varied career at the university,
Pidgeon remained a consultant to Dominion Magnesium, and subsequently
to Timminco. His ongoing involvement was instrumental in providing
technological assistance to further refine the original magnesium
process. He was also involved in developing similar metallothermic
reduction technology for the production of calcium and strontium.
Based on this technology, Canada remains a world leader in the
production of these two alkaline earth metals, which today have
important applications in the production of both ferrous and
nonferrous alloys and castings. Pidgeon has received many honors for
his contributions, including the Order of the British Empire in 1946.
Dr. Pidgeon was also made an "Officer" of the Order of Canada in
July 1996.
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A pioneer of Canada's mining and metallurgy industry, Lloyd Pidgeon is
best known for the development of the process for the production of
highpurity magnesium. The process, which bares his name, remains
to this day unrivalled in the production of the world's highest
purity magnesium metal. However, history will also remember Pidgeon
for developing technology that played a significant part in the
ultimate victory of the Allied Forces in 1945.