1921-22.] The Faraday-Tube Theory of Electro-Magnetism. 239 
WILLIAM GORDON BROWN. 
Biographical Note by Dr C. G. Knott, F.R.S., General Secretary. 
William Gordon Brown, the author of* the accompanying paper, was 
born at Edinburgh on August 12, 1895. He was educated at George 
Watson’s College (I90I-I9I4), where he distinguished himself as a pupil 
of outstanding ability in all lines of study, and exceptionally brilliant in 
mathematics. In his last year at school he gained the Glasse Bursary 
and also one of the College bursaries, and he was evidently marked out 
for a University career. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the war cruelly 
interrupted the natural development of an intellectual life of the highest 
order. Along with a group of his schoolmates, William Brown at once 
enlisted in the 4th Royal Scots. Later, as a private in the Royal Naval 
Division, he served in Gallipoli, whence he was invalided to Alexandria in 
1915, and finally home in 1916. In August of that year he crossed to 
France, and met his death on November 13, 1916, in the attack on Beaumont- 
Hamel. He was a general favourite among his comrades, among whom he 
was recognised as a personality of rare distinction both in character and 
in intellectual power. 
Dr Pinkerton, formerly mathematical master in Watson’s College, now 
Rector of the Glasgow High School, describes William Brown in these 
words ; “ Brown was a most infectious pupil. I always called him my 
Newton. He was far ahead of his fellows at school, and I taught him, in 
addition to class- work, to explore any region of mathematics or physics 
that had even the remotest connection with what turned up in my work. 
He responded to a marvellous extent ; and the width of his knowledge as 
a schoolboy and the methods by which he had arrived at it were probably 
unique. He had an intellect of the first order ; more important still, he 
was a boy of a simple sincerity of character, of a modest and charming 
manner, and with an influence on other boys that sprang from a deep 
respect for self-forgetfulness, courage, directness, and patriotism in a school 
sense — later all these made him a willing servant of his country, and made 
him give up everything to be true to himself.” 
While still at school, William Brown, following a hint from Dr 
Pinkerton, read with critical appreciation Norman Campbell’s book on 
Electricity in the People’s Library Series. This led to study of more 
advanced books, and all through his war experiences he not only kept up 
an interest in electro-magnetic theory and relativity, but became himself an 
investigator of important problems. Inspired by J. J. Thomson’s Recent 
