86 Annals of the Philosophical Club 



Universities, for, notwithstanding his onerous official duties, he 

 made very valuable contributions to science, not the least being a 

 magnetic survey of the British Isles for 1886 and 1891, undertaken 

 with Sir T. E. Thorpe. But the strain told upon his health ; he 

 resigned office in 1908, retired to Berkshire, and died near Newbury 

 on Nov. ist, 1915, regretted by all fellow-workers and friends. 



1891. On March I2th, the above-named joint dinner 

 with the Royal Society Club was held, 43 being present, 

 including two guests (Professor F. Fuller and Rev. J. H. 

 Gurney). Of the rest, 19 were members of both Clubs ; 

 17 only of the Royal Society Club, and 5 only of the Philo- 

 sophical Club ; the chair being taken by Sir W. Thomson, 

 President of the Royal Society. 



At the Anniversary Meeting on April 23rd, it was stated 

 that in the past year the average attendance had been 

 14 (126 at 9 dinners), an improvement on 12 in the previous 

 year and 10 in 1888-9. The Club decided to dine in future 

 at Limmer's Hotel. 



The vacancy caused by the retirement of Professor 

 P. M. Duncan was filled by the election of Sir W. Thomson, 

 President of the Royal Society. 



SIR WILLIAM THOMSON, first BARON KELVIN, is still so well 

 remembered that it will suffice to say he was born at Belfast, where 

 his father was a University Professor, on June 26th, 1824, was 

 second wrangler and first Smith's prizeman at Cambridge, a Fellow 

 of Peterhouse, and elected Professor of Natural Philosophy at 

 Glasgow in 1846. From that centre his life's work was done ; 

 thither the representatives of Physical Science gathered from far 

 and wide to celebrate his jubilee as Professor in 1896. " Other 

 men, as it was well said, have been as great in some department of 

 Physical Science, no one since Newton has exerted such a masterful 

 influence over the whole domain." He was a rare combination of 

 theoretical insight with practical ability. His conceptions of the 

 work of energy and the nature of matter are still bearing fruit ; 

 the successful laying of the first Atlantic cable marks an epoch in 

 history, and the charm of his personality was hardly less marked 

 than the power of his intellect. He was awarded many distinctions 

 in his own and other countries. Elected F.R.S. in 1851, he received 

 the Royal and Copley Medals, was created knight hi 1866, G.C.V.O. 

 in 1896, raised to the peerage in 1892, and received the Order of Merit 

 in 1902. Dying on Dec. lyth, 1907, his body was laid in Westminster 

 Abbey near the grave of Newton. 



