348 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. [CHAP. XIL 



CHAPTEE XII. 



CAMBRIDGE 1871 TO 1879. 



THE Chair of Experimental Physics in the University 

 of Cambridge was founded by a Grace of the Senate 

 on the 9th of February 1871. 



In October 1870 the Duke of Devonshire, who 

 was Chancellor of the University, had signified his 

 desire to build and furnish a Physical Laboratory for 

 Cambridge. In acting as a member of the Eoyal 

 Commission on Scientific Education, he had perceived 

 how useful such an institution might be made. It 

 was in connection with the acceptance of this munifi- 

 cent offer that the new professorship was established 

 by the Senate. 



The question, who should be the first professor ? 

 was for some time attended with anxiety. It was 

 understood that Sir William Thomson had declined 

 to stand, and it was thought uncertain whether Clerk 

 Maxwell could be persuaded to leave the retirement 

 of his country-seat. After some hesitation, arising 

 chiefly from genuine diffidence, he was induced to 

 become a candidate, on the understanding that he 

 might retire at the end of a year, if he wished to do 

 so. His candidature was announced on the 24th of 



