New-York tribune., 1907-12-18
CAREER OF LORD KELVIN

CAREER OF LORD KELVIN
The famous OF science whose death is an.
rounced in the foregoing dispatch began life with
out title heritage but that of brains Will
lam Thomsons ancestors for several generations
,ived in North Of Ireland. though thew had a
scotch derivation. His father. born on a farm
showed a passion for science at an early age and
Is said TO have learned now make a sun dial for
env latitude when only eleven years old The elder
Thomson James) was educated st the old College
of Glasgow. was appointed professor OF mathe-
rnatics in an institute In Belfast cwhere William
was born June 25. 1920. and n 1882 complied
with a request TO make his Alma Mater the scene
of his activities. which still devoted TO the
same class CT instruction From that day onward.
.u spite of numerous temporary absences. Glasgow
remained the home Of his distinguished Will
tam received part ot his eduation directly from
his father and little Of II from the institution
zhich the latter had been called Subsequently he
entered St Peters College. Cambridge. where he
uss graduated IN 1S45 He won notable honors
there being first Smiths prizenaan Of his year
well as second wrangler- II is believed that the
senior wrangler owed his triumph TO facility in
writing for one of the examiners was heard to
say that he unworthy to cut Thomson's
pencils for him Nor intellectual pre-
euineaoe achieved sacrifice OF physical we'll
being Thomson was devoted TO athletics while at
Cambridge. and rowed IN the winning boat in a
race with Oxford
Al the age OF twenty-five and only year after
his graduation, the young scientist chosen pro-
essor Of natural history in the University Of Gias-
gov after having spent several months in the lab
oratory Regnault, Paris. Repeated invitations
were afterward given him to assume similar
posts elsewhere. out his loyalty 70 the great city
or the Clyde remained unshaken. In 1885. three
years before Terminating his service there and ex-
ectIy half century after his appointment he re-
oeived wonderful tribute Of admiration and efec-
ton university and civil authorities OF Gias-
gow the leading scientific societies OF America and
Europe and many individuals who were themselves
DISTINGUISHED Cucluding the Prince and Princess
OF Wales) united that demonstration BY personal
presence. by formal address, by letters, kilograms
and cable messages. they made his jubilee ceeora-
tion an event practically without parallel in the
history OF science. Lord Kelvin was elected chan
oelior Of the university in 1901
HELPED MAKE CABLE SUCCESS
One OF the first great enterprises with which Pro-
fessor Thomson identified that which has
made the name of Cyrus ". Field memorable Elec-
tric signals sent through submarine cable were
found TO undergo peculiar retardatio1 that threat
ened TO blur them beyond recognition Faraday had
long before furnished partial key TO the evil but
Thomson supplied the remedy BY his advice IL
was made possible TO design a cable that
reasonably satisfactory clearness and speed could
be secured The correctness OF his statement Of the
laws involved disputed by an electrician Of the
cable company. Dr.. Wildman Whitehouse, but tho
Glasgow expert disposed Of the argument 80 ef-
fecrirely that he retained the spot
sulting engineer oiciated in that capacity both
for the cable OF 1855 and that OF 1856 He was also
electrical engineer for the French Atlantic cable
in 1863: the Brazilian River Plate cable in 1873:
West Indian cables IN 1875 and the Mackay-
Bennett Atlantic cable in 1879
He contributed 10 the of these enter
prises IN several other ways. He prescribed a
method OF testing the conduCllVity Of submarine
wire while il being laid in order that any de-
feet might be promptly discovered and cured He
slso invented Instruments wberewith receive
messages Those employed for land wires were not
sensitive enough. Thomson mounted a mirror
or tiny magnet that the feeble electric impulses
which traversed cable would cause II TO sway
A beam OF light thus DETECTED. first to tn"
right and then to the left, a blank white wall
II q dark room The magnet was suspended by
silk fibre, and its movements were practically un-
tnapeded by friction This invention was supple
nnented by one which would leave a permanent
On a strip Of paper II was called the
siphon recorder" Use was made OF it to receive
soTne OF the greetings sent to fits author In 1896
Without question did than any other sclef1-
tic man 70 promote submarine telegraphy' ana
that was the cause of his being knighted in 1855
Subsequently, he devised sending key Tor use
with 2 cabIe and Re did much to perfect appa-
ratus for taking deep sea soundings. whlie a snip
was under way, thus greatly faclIita'lig 'he eA-
pIorarioa Of able routes
Two inventions which have been OF mucn Vai"e
10 TIE mariner are Sir William Thonsons i'm
provernent the construction OF the compass
- his provision for overcoming the lnnuehce Oh
q Ships magnetism that instrument Ihe
former was effected by making two changes Inc
corpsss card was iightened and for the few coarse
needles vhic, attached TO IL he substituted a
la-s. number os small ones. The other object was
attained hy placing on opposite sioes OF the COM
pass and near IT, small globes OF iron whose SIZE
and distance subjects OF careiui coiiluIa-
ton
Fn, ,,..,urtne charges Of static electricity
Apparatus OF different types has been USED Dir
william originated Of the most serVlceaDie
TIE ouss,snt e,sctrorneter and made useful addi-
son. To eo,ne of the In fact IT is probabiy
true ,hat he eid more than any other electrician
living o- dead to introduce accurate methods OF
r,es.rrrins electricity. A machine Tor preoiciins
the level Of the tides IN part OF the worid Is
probably the most important OF ms hon-eie0NiiA
Inventions
III. via. experience deep insight and sound 1ude-
rne,. .. ,,,, NAN IN time made him such an au-
,sor.,v q, .aacsy,cal science that his opinion was
esyerly soueht regarding many fnoustf1ai enter
prises in which those qualifications wouio De oi
value When a number OF American CAPITALISTS
nrst seriously proposed 10 harness niagara d
board n. erre-t. WAS convened to study the posi-
bifties OF the plan: and the Glasgow professor Oh
natural philosophy fwho was eieVateo I" aie -
age IN 1Esz) its chairman Inc ffs' sisi. " ~ ~
he made 10 ti. country after the project haa begun
70 rnate-.al,ze vss In 1897 and he made trip TO
the Falls for the express purpose Of seeing what
had there been accomplished He reSaroeo ,he
achievement with profound enthusiasm
NEVER JEALOUS OF OTHERS
In the work Of other electrical inventors bord
Kelvin ever evnced 1velieet and most uflseiHsh