James Cloyd Downs Papers

James Cloyd Downs (1885-1957) was an American chemical engineer. Born in Newark, New Jersey on November 6, 1885, Downs earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (1904). After earning his degree, he worked for New York Edison Company and Acker Process Company.

In 1907, Downs was hired by Niagara Electro Chemical Company, which soon merged with Roessler & Hasslacher Chemical Company. At Roessler & Hasslacher, Downs conducted research on McNitt sodium cells. He also served as Plant Manager of the firm’s sodium plant in St. Albans, West Virginia for a time.

At Roessler & Hasslacher, Downs was best known for his invention of the Downs Cell. Invented in 1922, the Downs Cell is an apparatus used for the electrolytic production of metallic sodium and chlorine from molten salt (NaCl). The Downs Cell replaced the less efficient Castner Process and allowed for production of larger quantities of sodium. The sodium obtained through this apparatus is used for numerous applications, including the production of sodium cyanide, sodium peroxide, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Downs was awarded a United States patent for the Downs Cell in 1924 and the rights to this patent were initially assigned to Roessler & Hasslacher. The patent rights for the Downs Cell later passed to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont), which purchased Roessler & Hasslacher in 1930.

Downs was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1923, which ultimately forced his early retirement from Roessler & Hasslacher in 1926. From 1926 to 1956, he lived in Saranac Lake, New York and served as a consultant for several chemical firms, including DuPont and National Distillers Chemical Corporation. Downs was awarded the Jacob F. Schoellkopf Medal by the Western New York Section of the American Chemical Society in 1934. He was also noted for being the father of Wilbur G. Downs (1913-1991), a well-known virologist and naturalist.

James Cloyd Downs passed away in Eugene, Oregon on December 18, 1957.



Sources

James Cloyd Downs Papers, Science History Institute Archives, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

“Originator of the ‘Downs Cell’ Dies in Eugene Wednesday,” Eugene Register-Guard, December 18, 1957.