46 Master Minds of Modern Science 



Faraday. It was after Tyndall's death that Lord Ray- 

 leigh became Professor of Natural Philosophy. 



We have written about Sir William Bragg's discoveries 

 and about the great Institution over which he presides, 

 but as yet have written nothing about Sir William him- 

 self. 



The story of Sir William's scientific career begins a 

 great many years ago, on an occasion when two young 

 men were walking together in Cambridge. One was 

 William Bragg, Third Wrangler, just ready to leave the 

 university, the other was J. J. Thomson. Thomson 

 asked Bragg if he had seen that there was an opening for 

 a Science lectureship in Adelaide University in Australia, 

 and suggested that he might try for the post. 



Bragg at once made inquiries, found that the very last 

 day for entries had been reached, and so wired his applica- 

 tion. Shortly afterward he was sent for and interviewed 

 by an Australian gentleman, who told him presently that 

 he was the chosen candidate. This gentleman was Sir 

 Charles Todd, who gained world fame by driving the great 

 trans-continental telegraph line across the waterless 

 desert of Central Australia. His daughter afterward be- 

 came Lady Bragg. 



At Adelaide young Bragg found a small but well- 

 equipped laboratory, and it was there that he began 

 his researches. After spending many years in Adelaide, 

 Bragg was recalled to England to take up the position at 

 Leeds University to which we have already referred. As 

 well as the Nobel Prize, Sir William has received the 

 Barnard Gold Medal of Columbia University, the Rum- 

 ford Medal of the Royal Society, and many other 

 distinctions. 



Sir William makes Science seem easy ; he expresses his 

 thoughts in simple language, and for this reason his Christ- 

 mas lectures to young folk have always been popular. 

 He says that scientific research and experiment are 



