Thomson (III)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

SIR WILLIAM, LORD KELVIN, a British scientist; born in Belfast, ast, Ireland, June 26, 1824; was educated at Glasgow University and Cambridge University; and was Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Glasgow after 1846. He was electrician for the Atlantic cables of 1857-1858 and 1865-1866, being knighted on the successful completion of the latter; was electrical engineer for the French cable (1869), the Brazilian and River Plata cable (1873), the West Indian cables (1875), and the Mackay-Bennett Atlantic cable (1879). He invented the mirror galvanometer and siphon recorder for submarine telegraphy, and various kinds of apparatus for navigation and deep-sea exploration. His scientific papers have been published under the titles "Reprints of Papers on Electrostatics and Magnetism" (1872); "Mathematical and Physical Papers" (1882-1890); "Popular Lectures and Addresses"; "On Heat"; "In 1867, in collabora " "On Elasticity. tion with Professor Tait of Edinburgh, he issued his first volume of "A Treatise on Natural Philosophy" (2d ed. in 2 parts, 1879). From 1846 to 1853 he was editor of the "Cambridge and Dublin in Dailly, Scotland, in 1768. He was Mathematical Journal"; and also connected with the "Philosophical Magazine." He was president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and of the Royal Society of London. He was made an officer of the Legion of Honor (1889) and a peer (1892) and received various degrees, decorations, etc., both at home and from foreign countries. In June, 1895, the Glasgow University celebrated the 50th anniversary of his election to the chair of natural philosophy, one feature being a cable dispatch sent around the world and back in four minutes. He died Dec. 17, 1907.