Presidents of the Physical Society: J. J. Thomson, William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh, Arthur Eddington

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 37. Chapters: J. J. Thomson, William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin, John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh, Arthur Eddington, Oliver Joseph Lodge, William Henry Bragg, Balfour Stewart, Silvanus P. Thompson, Arthur Schuster, John Hall Gladstone, John Cockcroft, Sydney Chapman, Charles Galton Darwin, Owen Willans Richardson, William de Wiveleslie Abney, Nevill Francis Mott, John Henry Poynting, Richard Glazebrook, Harrie Massey, William Edward Ayrton, George FitzGerald, C. V. Boys, Shelford Bidwell, John Perry, William Eccles, David Brunt, George Finch, Edward Andrade, Hugh Longbourne Callendar, Frank Edward Smith, Charles Chree, Frederick Guthrie. Excerpt: William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin OM, GCVO, PC, PRS, PRSE, (26 June 1824 - 17 December 1907) was a mathematical physicist and engineer. At the University of Glasgow he did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging discipline of physics in its modern form. He worked closely with mathematics professor Hugh Blackburn in his work. He also had a career as an electric telegraph engineer and inventor, which propelled him into the public eye and ensured his wealth, fame and honor. For his work on the transatlantic telegraph project he was knighted by Queen Victoria, becoming Sir William Thomson. He had extensive maritime interests and was most noted for his work on the mariner's compass, which had previously been limited in reliability. Lord Kelvin is widely known for realising that there was a lower limit to temperature, absolute zero; absolute temperatures are stated in units of kelvin in his honour. On his ennoblement in honour of his achievements in thermodynamics, and of his opposition to Irish Home Rule, he adopted the title Baron Kelvin of Largs and is therefore often ...