72 Annwersary Address by Lord Rayleigh.  [Nov. 30, 
From the length of this list it will be seen that death has been unusually 
busy during the year. It includes many names of great distinction, of whom 
I can refer only to a few. : 
Sir B. Baker was a Councillor at the time of his death, and was well 
known among us as a frequent attendant at our meetings and as combining 
scientific interests with the highest degree of successful practice in his 
profession. The recent catastrophe in America will, perhaps, even enhance 
his reputation as the designer of the Forth Bridge. 
In Sir Michael Foster we have lost one, to whom probably more than to 
anyone else the present position of our Society is due. For 22 years 
he held the office of Secretary, during about half of which time I was his 
colleague. It would not be too much to say that the interests of the Society 
and a desire to extend its usefulness were never out of his mind. It was 
inevitable that his pronounced views and his energy in giving effect to them 
should occasionally arouse opposition, but he was impelled always by public 
spirit, sometimes to the detriment of his own private interests. His work for 
Cambridge, for the Government in commissions of inquiry, as well as for. the 
Society, constitute a lasting claim upon the gratitude of our generation. 
The name of Kerr will go down to posterity as the discoverer of two 
remarkable phenomena in Electro-Optics. His success is a good example of 
what may be accomplished under no small difficulties by courage and 
perseverance. 
The claims of Sir W. Perkin as the pioneer in the aniline industry and as 
a distinguished worker in scientific chemistry have recently been celebrated, 
and are recognised all over the world. It is satisfactory to reflect that, 
unlike many inventors, he met with full appreciation during his lifetime. 
Dr. Routh’s name is one that I cannot allow to pass without a word. I was 
indebted to him for mathematical instruction and stimulus at Cambridge, and 
I can still vividly recall the amazement with which, as a freshman, I observed 
the extent and precision of his knowledge, and of the rapidity with which he 
could deal with any problem presented to him. His book on Dynamics is 
well known. In its earlier editions it illustrated, perhaps, rather the vices 
than the virtues of the Cambridge School, but it developed later into a work 
of first-rate importance. I have always been under the impression that 
Routh’s scientific merits were underrated. It was erroneously assumed that 
so,much devotion to tuition could leave scope for little else. 
On the foreign list we have to lament three chemists of high distinction, 
Berthelot and Mendeleeff, though still active, had attained old age; but in 
Moissan we lose one from whom much more might have been expected. All 
three have been recipients of our medals. 
