Fonds F2702 - Francis L. LaQue collection

Francis L. (Frank) LaQue was a world renowned authority on marine corrosion, an outstanding author and lecturer, a prominent business executive, and a consultant and adviser to government. The recipient of many honors and awards, he served as president of the Electrochemical Society from 1962 to 1963, of the American Society for Testing Materials in 1959, and of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers in 1948.

LaQue was born in Gananoque, Ontario, and attended Queen's University, where he obtained his B.Sc. in chemical and metallurgical engineering in 1927. After graduating he worked for several months at Deloro Smelting and Refining Company of Canada as a foreman in charge of refining cobalt oxide. Soon, however, he was contacted by the International Nickel Company of Canada, Ltd., commonly known as INCO, and for eleven years was assistant director of technical services. In 1938 he was promoted to the Development and Research Division. In 1940 he was placed in charge of the Corrosion Engineering Section. In 1945 he became vice-president and manager of the Development and Research Division. In 1954 he became vice-president in charge of the Executive Department, and from 1952 to his retirement in 1969, he was a special assistant to the president. Hence, in his fortytwo-year career with INCO Frank became well acquainted with many aspects of the research, manufacturing, and usage of materials exposed to the elements.

Thirty-seven years after receiving his B.Sc. in metallurgy from Queen's University, it conferred on him the honorary doctor of laws degree. He served on the visiting committees of the Department of Metallurgy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Case Institute of Technology, Division of Electrochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, and National Bureau of Standards. Frank was very active in professional groups that were concerned with corrosion. His participation in such groups included being chairman of the Corrosion Research Council from 1959 to 1960; president of the Electrochemical Society in 1962 and of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers in 1949; fellow of the American Society for Metals; vice-chairman of the Welding Research Council; and a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.

LaQue spaent a large part of his corporate and retired career improving engineering standards. As with corrosion, his interest was both national and international. He belonged to many engineering standard organizations, did more than normal homework, and became president of several including the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) from 1969 to 1971 and the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) from 1959 to 1960. In 1974 he served in Washington as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce concerned with industrial standards.

LaQue passed away in Kingston, Ontario on 19 January 1988.