Last Updated:

2024-04-04 03:38:04

James Clerk Maxwell

Scottish physicist known for electromagnetic theory

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Scottish physicist known for electromagnetic theory

James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish physicist who formulated the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation. His work on electromagnetism and light laid the foundation for modern physics, influencing fields like special relativity and quantum mechanics. Maxwell is considered one of the greatest physicists of all time, alongside Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein.

Quantum Mechanics Michael Faraday James Dyson Robert Watson-Watt Carl Friedrich Gauss Albert Einstein J. Robert Oppenheimer James Callaghan Theory of Relativity Ludwig Boltzmann

1831-06-13

Birth of James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell was born on June 13, 1831 at 14 India Street.

1831-11-03

Birth of James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell was born on November 3, 1831, at 14 India Street, Edinburgh to John Clerk, an advocate, and Frances Cay.

1833

James Clerk Maxwell moved to Glenlair

In 1833, James Clerk Maxwell moved to Glenlair.

1834-04-25

Early Curiosity of James Clerk Maxwell

At the age of not yet three years old, James Clerk Maxwell's natural curiosity was evident. In a letter dated 25 April 1834, he was described as a curious child.

1839-03-08

Maxwell's Mother's Letter

On March 8, 1839, a passage added to a letter from Maxwell's father to his sister-in-law Jane Cay mentioned his mother's description of his innate sense of inquisitiveness.

1841-11-18

James Clerk Maxwell arrives at 31 Heriot Row

James Clerk Maxwell, along with his family, arrived at 31 Heriot Row, the house of his father's sister, Isabella Wedderburn, on November 18, 1841. He attended Edinburgh Academy and was known by the nickname 'Dafty'.

1842-02-12

Robert Davidson's Demonstration

James Clerk Maxwell attended Robert Davidson's demonstration of electric propulsion and magnetic force on 12 February 1842. This experience had profound implications for Maxwell's interest in science and technology.

1845

Publication of Maxwell's First Scientific Paper

At the age of 14, James Clerk Maxwell published his first scientific paper on the mathematics of oval curves and ellipses. This early achievement showcased his exceptional talent and set the stage for his future groundbreaking work in various scientific fields.

1846-04-06

Maxwell's first paper On the description of oval curves

In early 1846 at the age of 14, James Clerk Maxwell wrote a paper on ovals where he generalized the definition of an ellipse by defining the locus of a point based on the sum of distances from fixed points. This work introduced curves with more than two foci and was remarkable for his young age.

1847-08-01

Enrolled in University of Edinburgh

James Clerk Maxwell enrolled in the University of Edinburgh on August 1, 1847.

1850-10

James Clerk Maxwell starts at Peterhouse Cambridge

In October 1850, James Clerk Maxwell began his studies at Peterhouse Cambridge. He later moved to Trinity College believing it would be easier to obtain a fellowship.

1851-11

Maxwell studies under William Hopkins

In November 1851, Maxwell studied under William Hopkins, a renowned mathematician known as the 'senior wrangler-maker'. This experience played a significant role in shaping Maxwell's mathematical abilities.

1854-08-01

Graduation from Cambridge University's Trinity College

He graduated from Cambridge University's Trinity College in 1854 at the age of 23.

1855-10-10

Maxwell becomes a fellow of Trinity

On 10 October 1855, Maxwell was made a fellow of Trinity, a prestigious honor that he achieved sooner than expected. This recognition further solidified Maxwell's position in the academic and scientific community.

1856-04-03

Maxwell's Appointment at Marischal College

In early 1856, Maxwell's father fell ill, prompting Maxwell to seek a position in Scotland to be closer to him. After his father's passing on April 3, Maxwell returned to Cambridge but soon learned that he had been appointed as the Professor of Natural Philosophy at Marischal College.

1857-11-07

Stokes' Recognition of Maxwell's Scientific Work

On 7 November 1857, Stokes acknowledged Maxwell's papers on the dynamical top and experiments on the perception of color. Stokes praised Maxwell's work as providing remarkable evidence for the theory of three primary color-perceptions.

1858-06-02

Marriage to Katherine Mary Dewar

On 2nd June 1858, James Clerk Maxwell married Katherine Mary Dewar in Old Machar, Aberdeen.

1859-08-01

James Clerk Maxwell awarded Adam's Prize

In 1859, James Clerk Maxwell was awarded the Adam's Prize for his theory proposing that Saturn's rings are composed of tiny particles, which he presented in his book 'On the Stability of the Motion of Saturn's Rings'.

1859-11-30

Maxwell asks Faraday to act as a referee for the Chair of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh

In 1859, when the Chair of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh became vacant, Maxwell requested Faraday to serve as a referee for him. Despite his exceptional scientific achievements, Maxwell lost the position to Tait, as noted by the Edinburgh paper Courant.

1860-03-31

James Clerk Maxwell took professorship at King's College

On March 31, 1860, James Clerk Maxwell accepted a professorship at King's College. This marked a significant milestone in his academic career.

1861

Maxwell's Equations by James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell formulated Maxwell's equations in 1861, a set of fundamental equations that describe how electric and magnetic fields interact, laying the foundation for electromagnetism.

1861-02

Maxwell's Theory on Light and Electromagnetic Phenomena

In 1861, Maxwell published a paper titled 'On physical lines of force' in the Phil. Mag. Vols. 21 & 23, where he calculated that electric and magnetic effects travel at the speed of light. He suggested that light consists of transverse undulations in the same medium that causes electric and magnetic phenomena.

1861-03

Publication of 'On Physical Lines of Force'

In March 1861, Maxwell's work 'On Physical Lines of Force' was published, further elaborating on his theories of electricity and magnetism. This publication solidified his reputation as a leading figure in the field.

1862

Maxwell's calculation on the speed of propagation of electromagnetic field

Around 1862, James Clerk Maxwell calculated that the speed of propagation of an electromagnetic field is similar to the speed of light. He suggested that light is an electromagnetic phenomenon.

1864

Presentation of Maxwell's Equations

In 1864, Maxwell presented his famous oral presentation 'Dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field' to the Royal Society. This presentation contained what is now known as 'Maxwell's Equations' and proposed that light itself is an electromagnetic disturbance in the form of waves, following electromagnetic laws.

1865

Continuation of Maxwell's Electromagnetic Field Theory

In 1865, Maxwell continued his work on the 'Dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field', further exploring the concept of light as an electromagnetic disturbance. This paper contributed to the development of electromagnetic theory.

1866

Maxwell-Boltzmann Kinetic Theory of Gases Formulated

In 1866, James Clerk Maxwell formulated the Maxwell-Boltzmann kinetic theory of gases independently of Ludwig Boltzmann. This theory revolutionized the understanding of temperatures and heat by emphasizing molecular movement over the traditional concept of heat flow.

1867

Maxwell tours Italy

During the spring and early summer of 1867, James Clerk Maxwell toured Italy.

1868

Publication of 'On governors'

In 1868, Maxwell published a paper titled 'On governors' where he mathematically described the behavior of governors, establishing the theoretical basis of control engineering.

1869

Awarded Keith Prize, Royal Society of Edinburgh

In 1869, James Clerk Maxwell was honored with the Keith Prize by the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

1870

Publication of 'On reciprocal figures, frames and diagrams of forces'

In 1870, Maxwell published a paper discussing the rigidity of various lattice designs.

1871

Maxwell becomes the first Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge

In 1871, James Clerk Maxwell became the first Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge University, where he played a crucial role in establishing the Cavendish Laboratory.

1873

James Clerk Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory

In 1873, James Clerk Maxwell published his groundbreaking theory on the connection between light, electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetic waves, which are traveling waves of energy.

1874

Maxwell establishes Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge

In 1874, Maxwell set up the renowned Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University where he served as the first professor of experimental physics. The laboratory became a pioneering center for scientific research and experimentation.

1875

Elected Member of American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia

In 1875, he became a member of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia.

1876

Awarded Doctor of Civil Law (DCL), University of Oxford

In 1876, he was awarded the Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) by the University of Oxford.

1877

Publication of 'Matter and Motion'

In 1877, he published the book 'Matter and Motion'.

1878

Delivers Rede Lecture at Cambridge: 'The Telephone'

In 1878, he delivered the Rede Lecture at Cambridge on the topic of 'The Telephone'.

1879-03-09

Death of a prominent figure in Cambridge

A prominent figure passed away in Cambridge due to abdominal cancer on March 9, 1879.

1879-05-11

Death of James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell passed away on May 11, 1879, in Cambridge, England due to abdominal cancer, the same illness that his mother had. He was a renowned physicist known for his contributions to the field of electromagnetism.

1879-11-05

Death of James Clerk Maxwell

James Clerk Maxwell, the Scottish mathematician known for his significant contributions to various scientific fields, passed away in Cambridge, England.

1880

Publication of James Clerk Maxwell's Paper in Proc. Royal Soc. Edinburgh

In 1880, James Clerk Maxwell's paper was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, discussing scientific topics.

1882

Publication of The life of James Clerk Maxwell by L Campbell and W Garnett

In 1882, L Campbell and W Garnett published a biography titled The life of James Clerk Maxwell, shedding light on the life of the renowned physicist.

1896

Publication of James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Modern Physics by R T Glazebrook

In 1896, R T Glazebrook published a book titled James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Modern Physics, focusing on Maxwell's impact on modern physics.

1931

Einstein's Tribute to James Clerk Maxwell

In 1931, on the 100th anniversary of Maxwell’s birth, Albert Einstein praised Maxwell's work, describing it as the most profound and fruitful change in the conception of reality in physics since Newton's time.

1948

Publication of James Clerk Maxwell: A Physicist of the Nineteenth Century by R L Smith-Rose

R L Smith-Rose published a book on James Clerk Maxwell, focusing on his contributions as a physicist in the nineteenth century in London, New York, and Toronto in 1948.

1952

Publication of The Scientific Papers of James Clerk Maxwell

The scientific papers of James Clerk Maxwell were compiled and edited by W D Niven in New York in 1952.

1975

Publication of James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Natural Philosopher by C W F Everitt

In 1975, C W F Everitt published a book titled James Clerk Maxwell: Physicist and Natural Philosopher, exploring Maxwell's contributions to physics and philosophy.

1979

On the 100th anniversary of the death of James Clerk Maxwell

In 1979, J Polák commemorated the 100th anniversary of the death of James Clerk Maxwell in the Czech journal Pokroky Mat. Fyz. Astronom. 24 (6), reflecting on Maxwell's contributions.

1981

James Clerk Maxwell (on the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of his birth)

In 1981, R A Sardaryan wrote about James Clerk Maxwell on the 150th anniversary of his birth in a Russian publication, Izv. Akad. Nauk Armyan. SSR Ser. Fiz. 16 (4), highlighting Maxwell's life and achievements.

1982

Publication of James Clerk Maxwell by E G Forbes

In 1982, E G Forbes published a book dedicated to James Clerk Maxwell, delving into his life and work.

1984

Reflections on Maxwell

M Wilkes shared reflections on James Clerk Maxwell in 1984 during the sesquicentennial symposium in Amsterdam, providing insights into Maxwell's work and influence.

1985

Edinburgh philosophy and Cambridge physics

P M Harman explores the natural philosophy of James Clerk Maxwell in relation to Edinburgh philosophy and Cambridge physics in a publication titled Wranglers and physicists.

1986

J Hendry and James Clerk Maxwell's Theory of the Electromagnetic Field

J Hendry and James Clerk Maxwell collaborated on the theory of the electromagnetic field in Bristol in 1986.

1990

Publication of The scientific letters and papers of James Clerk Maxwell Vol. I. 1846-1862 by P M Harman

In 1990, P M Harman edited and published the first volume of The scientific letters and papers of James Clerk Maxwell, covering the period from 1846 to 1862.

1992

The Origins of the Clerk (Maxwell) Genius

D O Forfar explored 'The Origins of the Clerk (Maxwell) Genius' in the Bulletin of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications in 1992.

1995

Publication of The scientific letters and papers of James Clerk Maxwell Vol. II. 1862-1873 by P M Harman

In 1995, P M Harman edited and published the second volume of The scientific letters and papers of James Clerk Maxwell, covering the period from 1862 to 1873.

2003

Release of 'The Man Who Changed Everything – the Life of James Clerk Maxwell' by Basil Mahon

Basil Mahon's book 'The Man Who Changed Everything – the Life of James Clerk Maxwell' was released in 2003.

2006

Maxwell Year 2006

A year dedicated to celebrating the life and work of the renowned physicist James Clerk Maxwell.

2007

Publication of Mr Hopkins' Men: Cambridge Reform and British Mathematics in the 19th Century by A D D Craik

In 2007, A D D Craik published a book titled Mr Hopkins' Men: Cambridge Reform and British Mathematics in the 19th Century, shedding light on the mathematical landscape of the 19th century.

2008-11-25

Statue unveiled in Edinburgh

A statue of James Clerk Maxwell was unveiled in Edinburgh on November 25, 2008.

2015

BBC Two Documentary 'Scotland's Einstein: James Clerk Maxwell – The Man Who Changed the World'

In 2015, BBC Two aired a documentary titled 'Scotland's Einstein: James Clerk Maxwell – The Man Who Changed the World' highlighting the impact of James Clerk Maxwell.

2017

Maxwell and Cavendish's Null Method for the Inverse Square Law of Electrostatics by Falconer, I. J.

Falconer, I. J. explored Maxwell and Cavendish's null method for the inverse square law of electrostatics in a publication in Studies in History and Philosophy of Science in 2017.

2019

Vortices and Atoms in the Maxwellian Era

The article 'Vortices and Atoms in the Maxwellian Era' by Falconer, I. J. was published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A in 2019.

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James Clerk Maxwell