Lord Kelvin: An account of his scientific life and workGray, Andrew
Science
Lord Kelvin: An account of his scientific life and work
Gray, Andrew
Kelvin, William Thomson, Baron, 1824-1907
Lord Kelvin had been accustomed for a good many years to spend a month
or six weeks in summer or early autumn at the famous French
watering-place, from which he seemed always to receive much benefit. For
a long time he had suffered from an intermittent and painful form of
facial neuralgia, which, except during its attacks, which came and
passed suddenly, did not incapacitate him from work. With the exception
of a rather serious illness in 1906, this was the only ailment from
which he had suffered for many years, and his general health was
otherwise uniformly good.
Lord and Lady Kelvin returned to Netherhall on September 14, with the
intention of going in a day or two to Belfast, to open the new
scientific buildings of Queen's College. But, unfortunately, on the day
of their arrival Lady Kelvin became very seriously ill, and the visit to
Ireland had to be abandoned. His address was, however, read by his
nephew, James Thomson, son of his elder brother, and was a tribute to
the city of his birth, and the memory of his father.
The illness of Lady Kelvin caused much anxiety for many weeks, and this,
and perhaps some incautious exposure, led to the impairment of Lord
Kelvin's health. A chill caught on November 23 caused him to be confined
to bed; and though he managed for a week or two still to do some work on
a paper with which he had been occupied for a considerable time, he
became worse, and gradually sank, until his death at a quarter-past ten
o'clock on the evening of December 18.
The keen sorrow which was universally felt for Lord Kelvin's death was
manifested by all classes of the community. In Glasgow every one mourned
as for the greatest of the land, and the testimony to the affection in
which he was held, and the reverence for his character and scientific
achievements, was extraordinary. And this feeling was universal; from
all parts of the world poured in telegrams of respectful sympathy with
Lady Kelvin and with the University of Glasgow in their bereavement.
The view was immediately and strongly expressed, both privately and by
the press, that the most illustrious natural philosopher since Newton
should rest beside the great founder of physical science in Westminster
Abbey, and a requisition was immediately prepared and forwarded by the
Royal Society of London to the Dean of Westminster. The wish of the
whole scientific world was at once acceded to, and on December 23, at
noon, the interment took place, with a state and yet a simplicity which
will never be forgotten by those who were present.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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