The Washington herald., 1907-12-18
LORD KELVIN IS DEAD
Noted British Scientist Ex-
pires in London.
HELPED LAY ATLANTIC CABLE
Chief Work Was In Department of
the Science of Electricity, Al
though He Ranked High as a
Physicist-Invented Device for Re-
cOrding Cable Messages.

London. Dec. I7.-Lord Kelvin, the noted
scientist. died to-day.
Lord Kelvin, (wfliam thompson has
for years been regarded as the foremost
scientist Of Great Britain While his
achievements as a physicist have been
many ana varied. 1t is for his work in
the field Of electricity that ne will per-
haps be longest remembered
Beginning with his work as chef cleo
trical adviser at the installation of the
first Atlantic cables. there are few de-
partments in the science Of electricity
that do not bear the impress Of hsS mind.
In ls67 he was knighted for his work IN
connection with the Atlantic cable. and
IN 1892 he was created Baron Kelvin.
William Thompson was born at Belfast.
Ireland. June IS, 1924. He was the son
Of James Thompson. professor OF mathe-
mates at Glasgow University. he was
educated at Glasgow University and at
st. Peters College, Cambridge Univer-
sity OF which ne was for many years
subsequently a fellow. Very early in life
he exhibited the ability that has since
made him famous. and at the age of
twenty-five he became professor Of
natural philosophy at the University Of
Glasgow. chair which he filed until
1899.
studied Nature of Atoms
Some OF Lord Kelvin's work as a
physicist though most important. was Of
a character. that did not bring him into
prominence. Such work included. for
example, speculative matters relating TO
the age OF the earth and the nature OF
atoms Another line which his investi-
cations followed related to the precise
amount Of mechanical power which was
the equivalent Of a given quantity OF
heat This inquiry was regarded as OF
immense practical value, but it has at
tracted little attention, excepting among
scientists.
He was electrician for the Atlantic
cable when the abortive attempt was
made 10 lay ii in 1S57-5S, and again in
lS69-65- He also acted as electrician for
the French line In 1863. for the Brazilian
and river plate in 1873. the West Indian in
1870, and the Commercial in 1873. After
this early work on the cables he became
acknowledged as England's greatest cleo
trician, and before long every important
electrical proposition that came UP was
referred to him for an opinion.
Used Alternating Currents.
He was the designer of one Of the
earliest practical alternating current
dynamos, and when there was first talk
Of utilizing the water power Of Niagara
for the development Of electrical energy
II was Sir William Thompson who was
made chairman Of the advisory board
that took the matter under consideration.
he devoted much time 70 the invention
OF devices for improving marine telegra-
ply and first showed how it was possible
70 overcome sluggishness in transmits
sion which was so great as almost 70
obliterate signals. He invented an i'm
portant device for recording cable mes
sages. called the siphon recorder" and
one OF his inventions was a telegraph key
for use In connection with this sort of
work.
Lord Kelvin made several visits TO this
country, the last one being in 1902. At
that time he was everywhere greeted with
great enthusiasm and received the degree
OF LII. d. from Yale University.
He was president of the Royal Society
and Of about every important scientific
society in the British Empire at one time
VI dhOblici ne was a member or a ma
Jority OF those OF the entire world. and
received honors and decorations from
nearly every government on earth. His
titles and honors and the letters that he
was entitled to afix to his name take
twelve lines Of who's VINO for their re-
eital. In l90i he became chancellor Of
Glasgow University.
Author of Scientific Works.
He was the author of innumerable
scientific treatises. papers, and other pub
lications, including a work on natural
philosophy, in collaboration with Prof. p.
G. TAFT His first wife was Miss Margaret
Crum- whom he married in 1852. After her
death, IN 1870. he married Miss Frances
Blandy. daughter of Charles r. Blandy.
of Madeira, the wedding taking place in
1874 He leaves no heir to his titles.
He accumulated a large fortune through
his patents and fees for scientific serv-
ices. a large part OF it is invested in
industrial enterprises in the United States
He had a house in London and a country
seat in Ayrshire. Scotland He belonged
to a number Of clubs. and in spite Of his
abstruse work in science. he was very
much man Of the world, with well de-
veloped business instincts.