RETIREMENT FROM CHAIR 39 



Tait formally retired from the duties of his chair on March 30, 1901. 

 The Senatus expressed their appreciation of his long services in the 

 following minute : 



" In taking regretful leave of their eminent and highly valued colleague, Professor 

 P. G. Tait, the Senatus desire to place on record their warm appreciation of the 

 ability and success with which, for the long period of forty-one years, he has discharged 

 the duties and upheld the splendid traditions of the Chair of Natural Philosophy. 

 They recognise with pride that his world-wide reputation as an original thinker and 

 investigator in the domain of Mathematical and Physical Science has added lustre 

 to this ancient university. A master in research, he is not less distinguished as an 

 exponent of the Science with which his name will ever be associated. The zeal which 

 inspired his Professorial work is well known to his colleagues, and has been keenly 

 appreciated by successive generations of pupils, many of whom now risen to distinction 

 have gratefully acknowledged their indebtedness to their teacher. In parting from 

 their colleague, the Senatus would express the hope that he may speedily regain 

 his wonted health and strength and be long spared to enjoy his well-earned leisure. 

 He may be assured that he carries with him into his retirement their brotherly 

 sympathy and affectionate regard." 



On June 28, 1901, the Senatus resolved that the Honorary LL.D. 

 degree be conferred on Emeritus Professor Tait. The formal intimation 

 of this resolution was never seen by him. 



Immediately after Tait's retirement a number of his former pupils 

 resident in Edinburgh resolved to prepare an illuminated address, which 

 would be signed by all former students who had made a specialty in 

 laboratory work under his supervision. The address was illuminated by 

 Mrs Traquair, who introduced round the margin illustrations of the various 

 forms of apparatus which Tait had devised or used in carrying out his 

 most important investigations. A portrait of Newton was placed at the top, 

 and was flanked by scrolls, on which were inscribed certain Quaternion 

 formulae and a few of the more characteristic lines of the Thermoelectric 

 Diagram. Interwoven links and knots formed the foundation of the 

 decorative design, and here and there appeared the names of Steele, 

 Andrews, Thomson, Balfour Stewart, and Dewar, with whom he had 

 collaborated in experimental and literary work. Immediately beneath the 

 printed address was a group of curves taken from his papers : and then 

 followed the sixty-three signatures in facsimile of the former students 

 referred to above. Of these nearly thirty fill or have filled professorial 

 appointments in universities and colleges both at home and abroad, while 



