William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin

William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin OM, GCVO, PC, PRS, PRSE, (26 June 1824 – 17 December 1907) was a mathematical physicist and engineer. At the University of Glasgow he did important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging discipline of physics in its modern form. He worked closely with mathematics professor Hugh Blackburn in his work. He al... More

Date of birth:

  • Jun 26, 1824

Date of death:

  • Dec 17, 1907 (age 83 years)

Place of birth:

Also known as:

  • Lord Kelvin,
  • Lord William Thomson Kelvin,
  • William Thomson Kelvin
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Academic

Academic advisors:

Academic advisees:

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Author

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Award Winner

Awards Won:

Year Award Notes/Description
  • 1883
  • "For his discovery of the law of the universal dissipation of energy and his researches and eminent services in physics, both experimental & mathematical, especially in the theory of electricity and thermodynamics"
  • 1856
  • 1905
View Awards won by William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin »

John Fritz Medal Winners

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Organization

Governance of:

Organization Title Role From To
  • President
  • 1890
  • 1895
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Facts from the Community

From the kweb base

KWType:

  • Person

Assessment:

  • Thomson provided one of the first important definitions of the term energy when seen as a living force produced by bodies in motion. His work influenced the thinking of an entire generation of physicists who succeeded him.

Category:

  • natural sciences and mathematics

Disciplines:

  • physicist
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