SKETCH OF JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. 117 



densed form of presenting them, debarred any, save those whose knowl- 

 edge was sufficiently extended, from following him in his exposition. 

 But, by the students who enjoyed the privilege of attending his lec- 

 tures, he was regarded as a teacher of the greatest value, though at 

 times somewhat difficult to follow. Of a kindly and genial disposition, 

 Professor Maxwell secured the affectionate regard of those with whom 

 he came in contact, and to many his death comes as the double loss of 

 a companion in work and of a valued friend. 



Professor Maxwell was born in the year 1831, being the only son 

 of John Clerk Maxwell, Esq., of Middlebie, Dumfriesshire, Scot- 

 land. When eight years old his mother died, and his father there- 

 after lived a retired life on his estate, devoting himself to the edu- 

 cation of his son and the care of his property. He received his 

 early education at the Edinburgh Academy, and after leaving there 

 entered the University of Edinburgh. In 1850 he went to Cam- 

 bridge, from which he was graduated in 1854, as second wrangler. 

 In the following year he became a Fellow of Trinity College, and 

 a year later accepted the position of Professor of Natural Philosophy 

 in Marischal College, Aberdeen, which he held until the fusion of 

 this and King's College. He succeeded Professor Goodeve as Pro- 

 fessor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in King's College in 

 1860, and remained there until the death of his father in 1865, when 

 he retired to his estate in Scotland. None of these positions had been 

 entirely in accordance with his tastes, or such as to give full scope to 

 his abilities. Such an opportunity as in every way suited him was 

 opened to him in 1871, by the invitation of the University of Cam- 

 bridge to the newly created chair of Experimental Physics, which he 

 held until the time of his death. Shortly after his acceptance of the 

 position, the Cavendish Laboratory, with a complete equipment of 

 apparatus, was presented to the university by the Duke of Devonshire, 

 and it is due to the superintendence of Professor Maxwell that this 

 laboratory is so excellently adapted to its purpose. 



During the winter of 1878 and 1879 Professor Maxwell's health 

 failed him, and in the spring he betook himself to Scotland in the hope 

 of regaining it. He was not improved by his trip, and he therefore 

 returned to Cambridge, where under the treatment of Dr. Paget he 

 grew better, and hopes were entertained of his recovery. The im- 

 provement, however, was not lasting, and he rapidly grew weaker 

 until his death, on the 5th of November last. 



Professor Maxwell commenced original work at an early age, and his 

 contributions to the " Transactions " of societies and scientific periodi- 

 cals have been voluminous. A mathematical paper " On the Descrip- 

 tion of Oval Curves, and those having a Plurality of Foci," was sub- 

 mitted by him to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, through Professor 

 Forbes, before he was fifteen. While at the University of Edinburgh 

 he contributed two elaborate papers to the Edinburgh Royal Society, 



