H.J. Gough
# H.J. Gough

Herbert John Gough CB, MBE, FRS (26 April 1890 – 1 June 1965) was a British engineer and research director. He was most notable for his research on metal fatigue and was the chief engineer at Unilever from 1945–55.

## Life

Born in Bermondsey, London, Gough attended the Regent Street Polytechnic, and won a scholarship to University College London. In 1909, he became an apprentice at Vickers, Sons in 1913. He graduated from the University of London, with a BSc, a DSc and PhD in engineering. From 1914 to 1938, he worked at the National Physical Laboratory. From 1914 to May 1919, he served with the Royal Engineers. He was mentioned twice in dispatches, and was awarded the MBE in 1919.

His main area of expertise was the study of material fatigue. In 1938, he was director of scientific research at the Ministry of Supply. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1942. He was responsible for the Telecommunications Research Establishment at Malvern, Porton Down, and the rocket station at Aberystwyth Port, Cardiganshire.

In 1946, he presented the Thomas Hawksley Lecturer on Unexploded ordnance. In 1947 he was decorated with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm by the United States.

After the war, he joined Unilever as Engineer-in-Chief. He retired in 1955. He was President of the IMechE in 1949.

## Works

* The fatigue of metals: with numerous diagrams and tables, Scott, Greenwood & Son, 1924
