Edwin Alfred Dawes (born 6 July 1925) is a biochemist and magician from Yorkshire, England. As a biochemist, he authored two textbooks and was the long-term and founding head of the Biochemistry department at the University of Hull, where he led its research into bioplastics. As a magician, he is an internationally recognised authority on the history of magic. Early life and education Dawes was born in Goole in the West Riding of Yorkshire on 6 July 1925. He developed an interest in magic at the age of 5 when his father and grandfather performed for him during a period of illness. His interest in chemistry developed while at grammar school in Goole, and when he received a gas-mask during World War 2, he decided to test it by producing chlorine gas in the family shed. He completed his Bachelor of Science with Honours at the University of Leeds in 1946, and his PhD in 1948. Academic career Dawes lectured at the University of Leeds from 1947 to 1950, and at the University of Glasgow from 1951 to 1963. In 1963, he founded the University of Hull's Biochemistry department, and headed it until 1986. From 1963 to 1990 he was Hull's Reckitt Professor of Biochemistry. As director of Hull's biomedical research unit from 1981 to 1992, he led its work on polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics, which led to the commercialisation of Biopol by ICI. He was Hull's Dean of Science from 1968 to 1970, and its pro-vice-chancellor from 1977 to 1980. Dawes was granted emeritus status in 1990, and awarded an honorary Doctorate of Science by the university in 1992. Dawes was an editor of the Biochemical Journal from 1958 to 1965 and the Journal of General Microbiology from 1971 to 1976, and served as editor-in-chief of the latter between 1976 and 1981. In 1981 he became Publications Manager of the Federation of European Microbiological Societies, and the following year commenced as Chief Editor of its FEMS Microbiology Letters journal. He retired from those positions in 1990, and subsequently became the society's archivist. Dawes has been chairman of the Philip Larkin Society since its founding in 1995, ten years after the death of the poet. The two became friends while Larkin was librarian at the university's Brynmor Jones Library and Dawes was Chairman of the Library Committee (1974 to 1987). On 2 December 2016, after a long campaign, Larkin's memorial was unveiled