LORD RUTHERFORD DEAD

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 22, 21 October 1937, Page 11

LORD RUTHERFORD DEAD

World-Famous Physicist STUDY OF ATOMIC AND RADIOACTIVITY Early Life In New Zealand By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, October 19. Lord Rutherford of Nelson is dead. Ernest, Baron Rutherford, who was the fourth child of a large family, was born at Spring Grove, a town in the Nelson province now known as Brightwater, on August 30, 1871. His father was engaged in the flaxmilling industry, and his mother had been one of the first woman school teachers in the province. In 1876 the Rutherford family moved to Foxhill, where Ernest first attended school in company with his brothers. During the early years of his life, he was very interested .in experiments, and his schoolboy friends relate how he increased the efficiency of toy cannons by the use of marbles and homemanufactured gunpowder. He was also a great lover of the outdoors, and much of his time as a youth was spent in swimming, fishing, shooting, and other sports. In 1882 the family settled at Havelock. in the Marlborough province, and coming under the control of a teacher, Mr Jacob H. Reynolds, he was afforded the opportunity to study Latin. So rapidly did he progress that he was successful in winning the Marlborough Provincial Scholarship, tenable at Nelson College. So far advanced was he that on his arrival at the college Ernest Rutherword .was classified to the fifth form. 'At Nelson College he was successful in winning successive scholarships, and after becoming dux of the college he secured a university scholarship in 1889 and entered Canterbury University College, from which he graduated four years later with double first-class honours in mathematics and physics. During the four years he spent at the university lie conducted researches into wireless waves, which were then considered something of a novelty, and his experiments which he later continued at Cambridge University were so successful that they resulted in the construction of the first magnetic detector of wireless waves, an apparatus later improved and patented by Marconi.

Development of Wireless. New Zealand may be considered to have taken an important part in the development of wireless because of the experiments of Lord Rutherford. After completing his course at Canterbury University College, he was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship which enabled him to undertake a further course at Cambridge, where he attended Trinity College. Beside his research into radio waves, during his stay at Cambridge he also conducted experiments on X-rays, which had been discovered only shortly before his arrival. ' For some time he devoted all his energies to an attempt to discover their nature. Shortly after, when it was announced that the same kind of rays were given out by “radioactive” bodies, Rutherford, who had gained considerable reputation in the technique of measurements, turned his attention to these “radioactive” waves. He was successful in discovering the emanation from radium, and he also traced the source of the emanation to the individual atom. During recent years, he had devoted a great deal of his time to the study of atoms. In 1901 the University of New Zealand granted him its doctorate in science for his pioneer work in radioactivity. Some 12 other universities in Europe and America subsequently honoured him and themselves by conferring honorary doctorates. From 1898‘to 1907 he occupied the Macdonald chair of physics at the McGill University, Montreal; in 1907 he was made Langworthy professor at Manchester University; and in IJIJ Cavendish professor of physics at Cambridge University. He was director of the Royal Society Mond Laboratory, Cambridge, from 1936, and from 1920 was professor of natural philosophy at the Royal institution, and from 1930 was chairman of the advisory council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. lie was created a fellow of the. Trinity College in 1919. He was also president of the Royal Society from 1923 to 1928, and president of the British Association for Science in 1923. Among the medals and prizes awarded him are the Rumford Medal, 1905; Nobel Prize for chemistry, 1908; Bessa Prize, 1908; the Copley Medal, 1922: the Franklin Medal, 1924; the Albert Medal, 1928; and the Faraday Medal, 1930. u. In addition, he had numerous publications to his credit, the best known of which are “Radioactivity” (1904), “Radioactive Transformation” (1906), “Radioactive Substances and Their Radiations” (1912), “Radiations from Radioactive Substances” (1930). He was created a knight in 1914 and a baron in 1931. He married, in 1900, Miss Mary Newton, but there is no heir to the barony. His daughter, Eileen Mary, who married R. H. Fowler, died in 1930. There are four surviving grandchildren, all of Cambridge, England. .. „, , Lord Rutherfords Work.

Lord Rutherford's work has been very aptly described by Sir William Bragg, head of the Royal Institution. “He possesses a keen love of research for its own sake,” Sir William states. “He has a fine judgment of the essential, and goes to work in a way which, when the end is reached, is seen to have been obviously direct. “His arguments and results are expressed in simple and straightforward language which reveals the completeness and force of bis thoughts, lie has the courage to break with precedent and to try out his own ideas. Rutherford has upset many theories: lie has never (iclittled anyone's work. “He Ims added now pages lo the book of physical science, and lie has always taught his students to venerate the work of tbc old. even when the writing lias become a little old-fashion-ed. “Perhaps it is by characteristics such as these, quite as much as bj’ his own scientific perception and technical skill, that Rutherford exercises such a wide influence.

“He always takes a broad and generous view, giving credit to others for their contributions to knowledge, and never pressing for the recognition of his own. For this reason his students have worked under him with loyalty and affection, knowing that their interests were safe in his hands.

“For this reason, too. he has friends among tne scientific workers of every country, and is welcome everywhere. “Even these qualities would seem to be insufficient for the international

reputation which he holds. In addition he has a sound grasp of the essentials of business, and a quick understanding of the thoughts and feelings of those with whom he is dealing. “It has happened at more than one gathering that progress has been slow until Rutherford has taken the lead, and with his driving power and natural kindliness has brought about a successful issue. “It is this unusual combination of so many qualities that has won for Rutherford a host of admirers.” CHERISHED MEMORY Prime Minister’s Tribute SYMPATHY OF DOMINION “I feel sure that all the people of New Zealand will join with me in expressing regret at the death of Lord Rutherford of Nelson in his sixty-sixth year,” said the Prime. Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in a tribute last evening to the memory of the famous scientist. “He was foremost among New Zealand scholars and was not the least of the world’s leading scientists.

“It would be foolish of me, as it also would for many others, to pretend any claim to knowledge of the science in which the distinguished New Zealander won fame for himself and for his country. We knew him first as Ernest Rutherford and watched his wonderful career overseas with interest and proud appreciation. The whole world of science and scholarship came to admire him as Lord Rutherford, 0.M., of Nelson, New Zealand, a brilliant professor of physics at Cambridge University, and a master of research in radioactivity. “Many British and foreign universities honoured him with distinctive degrees, and the British nation through its King conferred its highest honour — the Order of Merit. These rewards are not Riven lightly iu the exacting sphere in which the late Lord Rutherford won a great prominence, and we all can be sure that he deserved them. His life ami work should be an Inspiration to New Zealanders in their quest for the best in scholarship and science. The people of New Zealand will cherish his memory and the fine record of his achievements.”

AN APPRECIATION Fellow-Worker’s Tribute A warm tribute to the memory of the late Lord Rutherford was paid last night by Dr. L. Bastings, of Wellington, who for two years worked with him In the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge. “Lord Rutherford was a wonderful judge of character, and had the ability to intimate in a few days the capabilities of those who worked with him,” said Dr. Bastings. “Each was apportioned his particular share in the team work, and it was very seldom that Lord Rutherford’s selection was not fully justified. “Many of his outstanding discoveries were the result of team work, the ideas being initiated by him and the detailed investigations carried out by a group of workers under his active stipervision. He saw with amazing peneration just where the strands of an investigation should be brought together under his master hand. “His enthusiasm was boundless and infectious, and his genial good nature and ready wit tided over many an awkward situation. “He made a practice during the Cambridge term of keeping open house for his students at his home at Newnham Cottage, and it was here that oue had the best opportunity of appreciating the large heartedness and versatility of this great man.” LOSS TO SCIENCE The loss science had sustained in the death of Lord Rutherford was referred to by members of the technological section of the Wellington Philosophical Society last night. Dr. L. Bastings spoke feelingly of the great personal qualities of the distinguished scientist, and made brief reference to the almost meteoric way in which he had risen to pre-eminence iu the world of physics after leaving New Zealand. Members stood a moment in silence as a mark of respect