VETERAN SCIENTIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13625, 19 December 1907, Page 5

VETERAN SCIENTIST.

LORD KELVIN'S DEATH. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— (Received December 19, 12.30 a.m.) London, December 18. The death occurred to-day of Lord Kelvin, the eminent scientist, in his 83rd year.

Lord Kelvin, a brief sketch oT whose career was given last Saturday, was the son of Professor Thompson, and was born at Belfast in Juno, 1824. At the early age of 10 he entered tho Glasgow College", and alter a distinguished course there he cntcivd Peterhousc, Cambridge, where in 1845 lie graduated as Second Wrangler and First Smith's Prizeman, and was elected to a Fellowship in his college. In 1846 lie was elected to the Professorship of Natural Philosophy in Glasgow University, a post which he held for 53 years. At the early ago of 17, while yet an undergraduate of Cambridge University, he attracted the attention of the scientific men of the country by his paper " On the Uniform Motion of Heat in Homogeneous Solid Bodies, and its Connection with the Mathematical Theory of Electricity." The method of this paper was quite original, ami later proved of the greatest importance in the discussion of problems in electrostatics and magnetism. This paper was soon followed by others, showing the same remarkable scientist insight and mathematical ability, and it was at once manifest that he was destined) to take a foremost place as a scientific worker. By his paper on " Electrical Images," he introduced an idea which has led to great advances in the mathematical theory of electricity. The value of his paper '" On an Absolute Thcrmometric Scale is shown by the universal use which is now made of that conception in calculations in thermodynamics. His researches in electrostatics soon led him to the • invention of those beautiful measuring instruments which are now so well known in laboratories and electric installations. His chain of electrometers affords a means of accurately measuring electric potentials ranging from exceedingly small to exceedingly high values. His portable electrometer is largely used for the determination of the electric state of the atmosphere. - In electromagnetism again his ammeters and electric balances cover a wide range in the measurement of electric currents, while ins supply meter has been found useful in electric installations. Perhaps, however, to the general public Lord Kelvin is best known by his invention in the held of telegraphy and by those which form aids to navigation. By the invention of the mirror galvanometer and of the siphon, recorder he has made it possible to receive and record accurately telegraphic signal* over the longest cables. When the Atlantic cable was successfully laid in 1866, he received the honour of knighthood for the part he had taken in that undertaking. He was always an enthusiastic yachtsman, and it is, therefore, not surprising that he should have directed his attention to devising aids to naviagtion. His magnetic compass and his sounding machine are familiar to all seamen. The former gives complete and perfect correction against disturbance by the ship's magnetism; by the latter instrument soundings can be readily taken without slackening the speed of the ship. In 1892 he (then Sir William Thomson) was raised to the peerage as Baron Kelvin of Largs, in the County of Ayr. The appreciation and esteem in which Lord Kelvin was held by scientific m;n generally were well manifested in 18%, when his jubilee as Professor of Natural Philosophy was celebrated in Glasgow University. To that celebration came many of the most distinguished British and foreign men of science to offer their congratulations, and the brilliant gathering was an event to be long remembered. A short time afterwards the Queen made him a Knight of the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Besides this. Lord Kelvin had at different times received decorations from foreign countries.