Thomson, William, 1824-1907 (Baron Kelvin of Largs, mathematician and physicist)
Dates
- Existence: 1824 - 1907
Biography
William Thomson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), scientist and inventor, studied at Glasgow University from 1834, before entering Peterhouse, Cambridge, in 1841, where he was a fellow, 1846-1856 and 1872-1907. He was professor of natural philosophy in Glasgow, 1846-1899; president of the mathematical and physical section of the British Association at Glasgow, 1876; and chancellor of Glasgow University, 1904. He also helped to found the the firm Kelvin&White, Ltd., Glasgow, which he used to manufacture his inventions. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1851, and served as president from 1890 to1894. He was knighted in 1866 and created baron in 1892. Between 1851 and 1854 Thomson formulated the two great laws of thermodynamics, equivalence and transformation. In 1853 he developed the theory of electric oscillations, which was to form the basis of wireless telegraphy, and he superintended the laying of a cable across the Atlantic in 1866.
Found in 51 Collections and/or Records:
31 letter books containing drafts (except for LB4 which contains press copies) of letters written to Kelvin, 1878-1906
LB1 to LB4, 1878-1884; LB5 to LB31, 1899-1906.
Cambridge and Glasgow, 1840s and 1850s., 1840-1859 (Circa)
Compass and sounding machine correspondence, 1877-1880, 1877-1880
There are letters from various people and organisations to Kelvin and to his nephew William Bottomley, concerning Kelvin's inventions. Roughly half the letters are to Kelvin, half to Bottomley.
Congratulations received by Kelvin and his wife in 1902 when he was awarded the Order of Merit and made Privy Councillor., 1902
Correspondence, 1846-1906
Correspondence of James Clerk Maxwell, Peter Guthrie Tait and William Thomson, 9 Mar. 1859-2 Sep. 1879 (There are 7 undated items within the series and some others of problematic dating)
A series of 164 letters mostly in correspondence with Peter Guthrie Tait, with other items from William Thomson, Lord Kelvin; all in correspondence with J.C. Maxwell
Correspondence relating to attempts to have the decimal system of weights and measures accepted in Britain, 1901-1906., 1901-1906
Correspondence relating to Kelvin's retirement in 1899., 1899
From Carl Haag to Sir William Thomas (Lord Kelvin), 18 Feb. 1890
He will look carefully at specimen drawings by Thomson's niece; Dobson will propose her, Haag will second it
From Hermann Von Helmholtz to Sir William Thomson (Lord Kelvin), 2 Sep. 1883
He is invited to join a commission to consider building 'a kind of scientific physical observatory' at Berlin, proposed by him and Dr Werner Siemens; he is urged to become director; would be able to concentrate on purely scientific work
Indian Telegraph Service Examination
Jubilee congratulations received by Kelvin and his wife for the jubilee of his professorship in 1896., 1896
Kelvin's notes made while reading with William Hopkins at Cambridge.
Letter from Arthur Cayley to W. Thomson, with note by Thomson added, 5 Dec. 1871
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 14 Apr. 1870 (SLP 339)
With notes by way of reply added by Thomson
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 14 Mar. 1871 (SLP 362)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 8 Feb. 1872 (SLP 402)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 10 Aug. 1872 (SLP 420n)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 17 Apr. 1865
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 30 Mar. 1871 (SLP 365)
Modern copies or transcriptions of correspondence of J.C. Maxwell and others in this collection or elsewhere, including typescripts and facsimiles
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, 17 Aug. 1869 (SLP 326)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from J.C. Maxwell to W. Thomson, with Thomson's reply added, 7 Nov. 1871 (SLP 390)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from W. Thomson to J.C. Maxwell, 24 Aug. 1872 (SLP 420n)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
Letter from W. Thomson to J.C. Maxwell, 17 June 1871 (Note contemporary with letter, SLP 377n)
Has note added by P.G. Tait
Letter from W. Thomson to J.C. Maxwell, 7 Sep. 1879 (SLP 757n)
A principal series of scientific correspondence, drafts and notes totalling 242 items, letters written to J.C. Maxwell from many scientists and institutions of Maxwell's day dating from his early days at Cambridge University until the day of his death.
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