370 GUSTAV EOBERT KIRCHHOFF. 



GUSTAV ROBERT KIRCHHOFF. 



Geheimrath Gustav Robert Kirchhoff was elected a Foreign 

 Honorary Member of this Academy on November 9, 1870, to fill the 

 vacancy created by the death of the eminent chemist, Thomas Graham. 

 Kirchhoff was born in Konigsberg, Prussia, on March 12, 1824. He 

 died in Berlin on October 17, 1887, at the age of sixty-three years. 

 After passing through the Gymnasium he continued his studies, in 

 physics under F. E. Neumann, and in mathematics under F. J. Riche- 

 lot, both eminent Professors in the University of Konigsberg, taking his 

 degree in 1847. At the age of eighteen he had selected the study of 

 physics as his life work. As Privat-docent he started on his career of 

 teachiug and investigation, in Berlin. He was Professor Extraordinary 

 and co-director of the Physical Institute in Breslau from 1850 to 1854. 

 Here he formed a lifelong intimacy with the distinguished chemist, 

 R. W. Bunsen. In 1852 Bunsen went to the University of Heidelberg 

 as Professor of Chemistry, and Kirchhoff followed him in 1854, suc- 

 ceeding P. G. Jolly, who had gone to Munich, as Professor of Physics. 

 Here he remained until 1875, when he was appointed Professor of 

 Mathematical Physics in the University of Berlin. 



This interesting description of Kirchhoff at the age of thirty, as 

 given by Robert von Helmholtz, is quoted from the Popular Science 

 Monthly : — 



" There was, therefore, some surprise in Heidelberg when the slender, 

 remarkably youthful, modest, even bashful North German appeared, 

 heralded by Bunsen's warm recommendations. His refined, animated 

 speech, his courteous and attractive demeanor, his fine sense of humor 

 and his wit, soon won him the liking of all men with whom he came in 

 contact. He was, therefore, a welcome participant in all the social 

 gatherings of the circle into which he fell. His friendship with Bunsen 

 became very close. Bunsen was thirteen years his elder, strong and 

 broad-shouldered, with a lively, commanding temperament, making his 

 influence felt upon every one. The two men were thus quite different 

 in their outer aspects from one another : yet they not only pursued 

 their great works in common, but also lived their daily social life to- 

 gether. They took walks in company in the environs of Heidelberg, 

 and they travelled together during the vacations." 



Before taking his degree, Kirchhoff had begun his work in original 

 research, and published a remarkable paper on electrical conduction in 

 a thin plate, especially a circular one. His problem was to find the 

 current in any branch of a network of linear conductors. Starting 



