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Strutt, John William, 1842-1919 (3rd Baron Rayleigh, experimental and mathematical physicist)

 Person

Biography

John William Strutt (1842-1919), 3rd Baron Rayleigh, was born at Maldon, Essex, on 12 November 1842. He was educated privately and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a Fellow, 1866-1871. He succeeded his father as baron in 1873. Rayleigh was Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge, 1879-1884. He retired to Terling Place, Essex, in 1885, but continued to work in his private laboratory. He carried out research in physics, chemistry and mathematics, and published many scientific papers. In 1894 he was responsible, with William Ramsay, for the discovery of argon. He was Secretary of the Royal Society, 1885-1896, and President, 1905. He died at Witham, Essex, on 30 June 1919.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

 Fonds

James Clerk Maxwell: Letters to George Chrystal and other papers

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.8375
Scope and Contents

The collection is comprised of papers relating to James Clerk Maxwell, George Chrystal, Prof. William Garnett (Maxwell's Demonstrator at the Cavendish Laboratory), and John William Strutt, Lord Rayleigh. A typed note states '5.10.67: Presented by Professor Mott, these were found among the possessions of his late Father, who worked in the Cavendish Laboratory for two years in the early days'. The miscellaneous items, nos. 22-26, are in Maxwell's hand.

Dates: 1874-1885
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

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  • Subject: Physics X