1871-1937

New Zealand-born British Physicist

Ernest Rutherford identified alpha and beta radiation, showed that an element could transmute by radioactivity, probed the interior structure of matter, and split the atom. He has been called the father of modern physics, but was a somewhat reluctant parent, disliking many mathematical and philosophical aspects of the "new science." Rutherford preferred simple, descriptive interpretations, once saying that if a piece of physics could not be explained to a barmaid, then it was not a very good piece of physics.

Ernest was born the fourth child of Martha and James Rutherford, in the Nelson district of the South Island of New Zealand. His education had a number of fortunate coincidences. His local primary school opened the year he was eligible to start schooling, so he did not miss years like his elder brothers and sisters. He won a scholarship to Nelson...