(born June 26, 1824, Belfast, County Antrim, Ire.—died Dec. 17, 1907, Netherhall, Ayrshire, Scot.) British physicist. He entered the University of Glasgow at 10, published two papers by 17, and graduated from Cambridge University at 21. The next year he was awarded the chair of natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow, where he remained until retiring in 1899. He helped develop the second law of thermodynamics, and in 1848 he invented the absolute temperature scale named after him (&see; absolute zero).
He served as chief consultant for the laying of the first Atlantic cable (1857–58). His patent for a mirror galvanometer for receiving telegraph signals (1858) made him wealthy. His work in electricity and magnetism led ultimately to James Clerk Maxwell's theory of electromagnetism. He also contributed to the determination of the age of the Earth and the study of hydrodynamics. He was raised to the peerage in 1892. He published more than 600 scientific papers and received dozens of honorary degrees.
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