Lord Kelvin (1824-1907),British physicist,with one of his binnacle compasses. Lord Kelvin,born William Thomson and made a baron in 1892,was a professor at Glasgow University from 1846-1899. As well as being one of the pre-eminent scientists of the day,Thomson also designed compasses and other navigational equipment to sell to the British Admiralty. From the 1870s,Kelvin worked with the optical instrument maker James White (1824-1884). The manufacturer's name,Kelvin and James White Limited (lower right),refers to the company formed by Kelvin in 1900. Both Glasgow and London are mentioned on the label; a London office was opened circa 1904. Photograph published in The Life of William Thomson (volume II,1910) |