OBITUARY NOTICES OF FELLOWS DECEASED. 



James Thomson, lately Professor of Civil Engineering and 

 Mechanics in the University of Glasgow, was born in Belfast on 

 February 16, 1822. 



His father, a mathematician of very high order, was, in the first 

 instance, Mathematical Master and Professor of Mathematics in the 

 Royal Belfast Academical Institution ; but in 1832 became Professor 

 of Mathematics in Glasgow University. 



James Thomson, and his brother William, Lord Kelvin, entered 

 the classes at Glasgow University afc an unusually early age. They 

 were never at school, having received their early education at home 

 from their father. They passed through the University together, 

 both with high distinction, the two lads usually obtaining the first 

 and second prizes in each of the classes they attended. 



At a very early age also James Thomson showed evidence of con- 

 siderable inventive genius. When he was about sixteen or seventeen 

 he invented a mechanism for feathering the floats of the paddles of 

 paddle steamers. Steamboats, even on the Clyde, were comparatively 

 novel in those days ; and the invention was looked on with much 

 interest by the Clyde engineers to whom it was shown. Unfortu- 

 nately, from a commercial point of view, however, it turned out that 

 another method of accomplishing the same object had been invented 

 and patented only a few months earlier. 



After passing through the University curriculum, James Thomson 

 took the degree of M.A. with honours in Maihematics and Natural 

 Philosophy at the age of seventeen. 



As he had decided on adopting civil engineering as his profession, 

 he went, in the autumn of 1840, to the office of Mr. Macneill (after- 

 wards Sir John Macneill), in Dublin. But unfortunately his health 

 had, shortly before, to some extent, broken down. He was obliged 

 to leave Mr. Macneiirs office after about three weeks and return 

 home. 



In 1840 a new departure was made in Glasgow University, which 

 proved of great importance, and which has had far-reaching influence 

 on the practical teaching of engineering in this country. This was 

 the foundation, by Queen Victoria, of the first Chair of Civil Engi- 

 neering and Mechanics in the United Kingdom. The first professor 

 was Lewis Gordon, who was succeeded fifteen years later by 

 Macquorn Rankine. James Thomson, at home and in delicate 



VOL. Lin. b 



