Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-31
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KELVIN, MASTER SCIENTIST.
One of the Most Distinguished Men OF
tba NorId For Forty Years.

One Of the Most Distinguished Men OF
the World For Forty Years.
Lord Kelvin, who died last Tuesday
at Glasgow, has been regarded as the
worlds most distinguished scientist for
forty years. Although a master IN
many departments Of physics and
chemistry, his successes in telegraphy'
narticularly marine or cable telegra-
phy, probably have brought him the
greatest renown.
Lord Kelvin's name forever will be
linked with the laying of the Atlantic
cables, not only the original cables, but
several others which were sunk during
the ten or fifteen years following the
initial experiment. When the problem
of ocean telegraphy was first presented
to the world there were few scientists
who looked upon 1t as solvable. Most
of them, indeed, scoffed at the idea ana
said 1t was visionary. Lord Kelvin was
then a young man. He was at that
time plain William Thomson. He was
born IN Belfast, Ireland, in 1924, and In
1855, when the discussion about con-
Meeting the two continents with met
al wire was hottest, he was only 81
years Of age.
But young Thomson's training had
fitted him we'll for the work that was
ahead of him. AS early as 1912 he had
published important papers on heat
electricity and mathematics. In 1S46
he was elected professor Of natural
philosophy in the University Of Glas-
COW. Thomson, later known as Lord
Kelvin, was then only % years old and
was hailed as the most precocious and
promising savant Of the day.
The dynamical theory Of heat early
engaged the attention Of Thomson, and
in the late '40s and early sos he wrote
freely about it. In 1855 he published a
paper on Electro dynamic Qualities Of
Metal" and it was while engaged In
experimental work in this field that he
was brought face to face with the mys-
teries of communication by electric
wires.
There was no scientist capable OF
mastering this problem, or, at least
none had the courage to announce him.
self until the young Irishman, who
always, by the way, has been famed
by the Scotch, modestly stepped for
ward and agreed to try. He invented
various instruments which the direct
ors of the Atlantic Gable company per-
suaded him to patent. This Thomson
did against his will.
81 would prefer" he said, that the
world should reap the benefit Of these
little instruments without any bar or
hindrance."
On the advice of his friends, how
ever, he secured the necessary patents,
among which was one for the mirror
galvanometer, first used in connection
with the 1858 cable. In 1867 the siphon
recorded was invented and patented.
On the successful completion Of the
Atlantic cable in 1866 Thomson was
knighted. He had made the trip on the
famous Great Eastern, and returning
home with fresh laurels, he was made
a knight by the hand of the lord lieu
tenant of Ireland.
During the gala days following his
achievements in marine telegraphy he
was feted and banqueted frequently
His feelings in respect to the search
for the hidden secrets Of science were
clearly indicated at one of these func-
tions, a banquet by the Lord Mayor or
London.
MY only object in these remarks,
he said simply, lis to point out that
science to be true to itself, must be
followed for it's own sake, and that all
the most important services 1t has
rendered to mankind have been the
result Of arduous investigations, car
ried on by men animated with the hope
of no other reward than that which
awaits every sincere and industrious
student Of nature"
Some Of his inventions were so far
in advance of his day that his COL
leagues refused to credit his announce
ments and had to be convinced by the
works themselves. When Lord Kelvin
first submitted his model Of the i'm
proved compass to Sir George Airey
of the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Sir George regretfully informed him
that "the thing will not do" Lord
Kelvin replied that he knew better,
and today the shipping Of the world Is
steered largely by "Thomson's COM
pass" just as the cables Of the world
are ruled by "Thomson's law"
Lord Kelvin was showered with hon.
ors by all nations. He was president
of the international Niagara commits
sion, and has visited America often. A
few years ago he inspected the Schen-
ectady works of the General Electric
company, and showed special interest
in some new cars being equipped for
the South Side Elevated road of Chi
cago.
One of Lord Kelvin's best friends Is
King Edward. For many years as the
Prince Of Wales his majesty and kel-
vim were intimates, and the friendship
A.