Harold J. Plenderleith

British conservator. He was born in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, 19 September 1898, son of Robert James P., art teacher, and Lucy Bell. He was educated at the Harris Academy in Dundee and went to University College of St Andrews in 1916 to study science. He left to serve in World War I where he earned a MC in 1918 and then completed his education at University College, Dundee; BSc, 1921; PhD, 1923.

In 1924 he joined Alexander Scott (1853–1947) at the research laboratory of the British Museum, and during the 1920s and 1930s he and Scott laid the foundations of scientific conservation in the United Kingdom. Assistant Keeper, 1931–1938; Deputy Keeper, 1938–1949; Keeper, 1949–1959; Professor of Chemistry, Royal Academy of Arts, 1936–1958; Director, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, 1959–1971; President of the International Institute for the Conservation of Museum Objects, 1965–1968; CBE, 1959.

He worked on the scientific analysis of objects from the tomb of Tutankhamun and was responsible for the care of the objects evacuated from the British Museum during World War II. His principal publication was The Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art (1956; revised ed., 1971).

He died in Inverness, 2 November 1997.