Gustav Adolf Wohlgemuth

Biography

Wolgemuth was born on 1 November 1868, in Berlin, North German Confederation, the son of Eduard Albert Maximilian Wohlgemuth and Louise Berend. According to Wade, Thompson and Morgan (2014), he travelled to London some time before 1891. Although little is known of Wohlgemuth's early life, once in London he became a British citizen in 1897 and by 1903 had established a business importing and exporting sausage casings. Despite running his business, in 1902 Wohlgemuth enrolled for a degree course in psychology at University College London, graduating with a third-class science degree in 1905. He then enrolled for a DSc in the Psychological Laboratory, supervised by William McDougall, completing his thesis in 1909 and being awarded a degree the following year.

Wade et al. (2014) reported that Wohlgemuth remained at the Psychological Laboratory after 1909, although he never became a member of its staff. He also ran his business until the end of his life.

Wohlgemuth married Clemence Morrelet in 1913 but "the union was neither fruitful nor happy" (p. 233). Wohlgemuth formed a close friendship with a fellow research student, Nellie Carey, but "On 6 June 1918 Adolf was shot in the back by his jealous wife". (p. 233) According to Valentine (2008), it proved impossible for the bullet to be removed. After Wohlgemuth had recovered from his wounds, Morrelet was tried in September 1918, was convicted for unlawful wounding, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Carey took Wohlgemuth's name; they had a daughter, Joan, in 1921 and a son, Bryan, in 1929. Wohlgemuth and Carey married in 1936, after the death of Morrelet.

Wohlgemuth died on 2 March 1942.