Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-12-27
KELVIN IS DEAD;
GREAT SCIENTIST
WONDERFUL MAN, CALLED PEER
OF NEWTON AND FARADAY.
EXPIRES IN GLASGOW.
HIS TITLE BECOMES EXTINCT.
Nobleman Leaves No Heir to Inherit
Rank Conferred on Him by
Queen Victoria.
SOME OF HIS GREATEST WORKS.

LONDON, Dec. 1S.-Lord Kelvin, the
noted scientist, is dead. He suffered a
chill a fortnight ago and on Wednes-
day last serious complications developed
Hope for his recovery was then aban-
doned. He lost consciousness Tuesday
afternoon and passed away peacefully.
Until the time of his fatal seizure
Lord Kelvin preserved remarkable vigor
of body and mind. He leaves no heir
and his title becomes extinct.
The newspapers pay him the highest
tribute as the foremost scientist of the
age, comparable with Newton and Fara-
day.
Life of Lord Kelvin.
Lord Kelvin-plain William Thomson
before his achievements were crowned
with a title-was king among savants
long before he became baron in
the peerage He ranked as one of the
most remarkable men of the age.
The amazing scope of his work is in
dicated by the following list of heads
into which it is briefly summarized;
First, mathematical papers concerned
with special problems in physics; second,
elasticity and optical theory; third, hydro
dynamics, and the vortex theory, tides
and navigation; fourth, thermodynamics,
heat and the age of the earth; fifth, cleo
tro-magnetic work, including the laying
of trans-oceanic cables.
Lord Kelvin was Scotchman by an
cestry and association, although Ireland
can boast itself his birthplace. He was
born in Belfast, June %, 1924, but the
family removed to Glasgow when he was
years old. As a boy he was a preco-
clouS student, and entered the University
of Glasgow, with which he had beer
identified as a teacher for the past fifty
eight years, when at the age of II. In
1889 he went to Cambridge, st. Peter s
college, from which he was graduated in
1915, with the highest mathematical
honors and as second ''wrangler" From
Cambridge he went to Paris and studied
for time under the famous Regnault.
In 1916, at the age of %, he was ap-
pointed professor of natural science in
the faculty of his Glasgow alma mater.
Made Famous by Writings
His scientific papers soon made him a
national fame, particularly so since his
energies were principally devoted to cleo
trlclty and Geographic engineering, which
were then occupying the attention of the
world. In 1856 the Atlantic Cable COM
pany, after two failures, again attempt
ed to span the ocean between Europe and
sition of electrician on board H. NJ. S.
Agamemnon. With the cooperation of
the United States ship Niagara cOmmu-
nications were established between Ire
land and Newfoundland, and upon Au-
gust ThOmsOn's instruments delivered
the first message and proved the COM
mercial feasibility of an Atlantic cable.
After fourteen days, during which 400
messages were sent, the cable broke, and
the capitalists who were backing the en-
terpriSe withdrew their support.
In 1865 another attempt was made
with the Great Eastern, under Thorn
sons direction, and upon July 10, 1866
cable communication was permanently
established. Thomsons devices, the mir
Tor galvanometer and the siphOn record
er, contributed in large measure to this
epoch-making success.
This triumph made him the worlds
greatest expert in submarine telegraphy,
and he was called upon to act as cleo
tricaI engineer for the French Atlantic
Gable company in 1869, for the Brazilian
and River Platte cable iii 1878, for the
West Indies cables in 1875, and for the
Mackay-Bennett cable in 1879. His ex-
tended marine travels whetted his appe-
tite for the sea, and for nearly twenty
years he spent most of his summer va
cations on his private yacht the Lalla
Rookh, making scientific researches. He
improved the apparatus for deep-sea
sounding, invented many electrical meas
uring instruments for use on submarine
cables, and perfected the mariners COM
pass.
On Niagara Commission.
In 1890 Lord Kelvin was appointed to
the craftsmanship of the international
Niagara commission, which examined
generation and transmission of power
from the falls. Lord Kelvin was also as
ISOLATED with a smaller undertaking Of
the same nature near his own home-the
generation of power from the Falls of
Foyer, and its utilization by the British
Aluminium company. In the earlier days
of electric supply companies and central
stations, his aid was considered indis-
pensable in every undertaking, and even
later, when the science became more for
mulated, he has always been busy with
plans for some new scheme.
In 1896 Lord Kelvin was appointed
knight of the Royal Victorian Order.
But his own country was not alone in
acknowledging his genius. France Gre
ated him grand officer of the Legion Of
Honor; Germany made him Knight of
the Order Pour lie Merite," and Bel
GUM made him commander of the Order
of Leopold.
Lord Kelvin was an honorary member
of most of the important scientific so
stiles conferred upon him the degree of
honorary doctor, in civil law, laws, sci
ence physical science, philosophy and
natural philosophy.
Lord Kelvin was president of the in
ternational Niagara commission and
visited the United States often. A
few years ago he inspected the Science
tady works Of the General Electric com
pany, and showed special interest in
Il
South Side Elevated Railroad of Chica-
go. Lord Kelvin had no heirs, and his
title died with him. One of his best
friends was King Edward. For many
years the King, then the Prince Of
Wales, was a warm admirer Of the great
scientist, and the friendship continued
until the day Of Lord Kelvin's death.