Memoir of Lord Kelvin

William Thomson, first Lord Kelvin, the noted scientist, President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, died at Glasgow, Scotland, December 17, 1907, at the ripe age of eighty-three years. Born in Belfast, Ireland, June 25, 1824, William Thomson began life without a title, or any heritage, save that of brains. In 1832, his father James Thomson, professor of mathematics in an institute in Belfast, removed the scene of his activities to his alma mater at Glasgow, which thenceforward remained the home of his distinguished son. William received his education in part from his father and in part from the College of Glasgow. In 1845 he was graduated from St. Peter´s College, Cambridge, where he won notable honors, being first Smith´s prizeman of his year, as well as second wrangler. While at Cambridge, Thomson was devoted to athletics, and rowed in the winning boat in a race with Oxford.