H. A. Humphrey



Herbert Alfred Humphrey MInstCE MIMechE MIEE FCGI (2 December 1868 – 9 March 1951) was a British engineer, inventor of the Humphrey pump.

Early life and education
Humphrey was born in Gospel Oak, London, to Louisa (née Frost, 1831–1911) and John Charles Humphrey (1833–1903). His mother had been a dressmaker before marriage, and his father was a clerk at the London Metropolitan Board of Works and later London County Council. Edith Humphrey, thought to be the first British woman to obtain a doctorate in chemistry, was his younger sister. He trained at the Finsbury Technical College and the Central Institution (which later became the City and Guilds College).

Invention of the Humphrey pump
He patented the Humphrey pump in 1906. During World War I he worked as a chemical engineer, working on improving the production of explosives.

He was awarded the Melchett Medal in 1939 by the Institute of Fuel. In 1945, he retired to Hermanus, Cape Province, Union of South Africa. He died there in 1951.

Personal life
He was married to Mary Elizabeth Horniblow. They had three sons and two daughters, including the bacteriologist John H. Humphrey.

A collection of Humphrey's papers is held in the archives of Imperial College London.