Henry Moseley was born in England on November 23, 1887. He is well known for his work on the periodic table -- at 26 years old. However, in 1914, World War I had begun and Moseley wanted to help the effort. Even though his family and colleagues were not supportive of his decision. I think it was great for him to abandon the comforts of his home in order to go help the war effort and to be so accomplished at a young age.

In his early life, he went to private schools. In high school, he believed physics classes were too easy, so he studied on his own. Unlike most students, he found his interest at a tender age and nurtured it. He would later go on to become a revered scientist, but only for a short while. Scientists at this time were allowed to join the war effort and fill any position they pleased and met the requirements for.

After college, Moseley ventured into Ernest Rutherford’s lab. Two years earlier, Rutherford had won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his discoveries in radioactivity. As most would want to happen to them, Moseley had earned a spot in his area of expertise that would benefit his professional life. It was quite an impressive feat and one to be admired by many. I think many people if they had the opportunity and capabilities to work with Rutherford would have done so happily.

While working with Rutherford, Moseley also had a teaching job on the side. However, he did not enjoy teaching, calling his students “mostly stupid.” When Rutherford offered him a research fellowship, Moseley was elated. This would allow him to concentrate on research.

He was shot and killed in 1915. His death led to the British government not allowing highly honored scientists to serve in the front line of the military.

After passing away at the young age of 27, some wonder what accomplishments or successes he would have had later on in his life. Robert Millikan said this about Moseley: “In a research which is destined to rank as one of the dozen most brilliant in conception, skillful in execution, and illuminating in results in the history of science, a young man but twenty-six years old threw open the windows through which we can now glimpse the subatomic world with a definiteness and certainty never even dreamed of before. Had the European war had no other result than the snuffling out of this young life, that alone would make it one of the most hideous and most irreparable crimes in history.”

Although he only led a short life compared to the work he accomplished, Moseley had changed his country's view on scientists and their involvement in the war. Now, as wars continue throughout the world, should we evaluate what jobs people serve in a war effort depending on their promise in other areas of expertise?