William WatsonCMG, FRS (4 August 1868 – 3 March 1919) was a British physicist and Lieutenant-Colonel in World War I.[1][2]
After education at King's College School, Watson studied under Arthur William Rucker and C. V. Boys at the Royal College of Science and received his bachelor's degree in 1890.[1] At the Royal College of Science, Watson was appointed demonstrator in physics in 1890, assistant professor in 1897, and professor in 1915.[3] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1901.[1]
At the beginning of his career, Watson was an assistant to Professors A. W. Rucker and Thomas Edward Thorpe in the great magnetic survey of the British Isles from 1890 to 1895. He assisted C. V. Boys in radio-micrometer experiments, in timing the periodicity of spark generators' electrical discharges, and in photographing the flight of bullets. He worked with J. W. Rodger in investigating the magnetic rotation of the plane of polarisation in liquids. He designed and built self-recording magnetographs which were used at Kew, Eskdalemuir, and other observatories. His textbooks of physics, Textbook of Physics, Intermediate Physics, and Practical Physics, became popular and were widely used.[1]
As a member of the Expert and Technical Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, Watson created specially designed instruments to investigate and develop the petrol motor. He assisted W. de W. Abney in experiments on colour vision.[1]
Upon the poison gas attacks in April 1915, Watson was sent to France to experiment with defensive countermeasures and in May 1915 made the first Allied experiments on a gas-cloud in the field. In June 1915, the British Army established the Central Laboratory with Watson as director. He was personally involved in the systematic collection and examination of the German shells and fuses used for the gas attacks. During these field investigations he was frequently gassed with a variety of poisons. In the last great gas attack of the war, Watson was a victim and eventually succumbed in hospital.[1] He is commemorated on the war memorial at Golders Green Crematorium.[4]
In addition to the Royal Automobile Club, Watson was a member of the Savile Club.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefCallendar, H. L. (3 August 1920). "William Watson, 1868–1919". Proceedings of the Royal Society A. 97 (6874): i–iii.
^"Lt.-Col. W. Watson, C.M.G., F.R.S." Nature. 103 (2576): 29–30. 13 March 1919. Bibcode:1919Natur.103...29.. doi:10.1038/103029a0.
^Gay, Hannah (2007). The History of Imperial College London, 1907–2007. pp. 140–141. ISBN9781908979445.
william, watson, physicist, william, watson, august, 1868, march, 1919, british, physicist, lieutenant, colonel, world, after, education, king, college, school, watson, studied, under, arthur, william, rucker, boys, royal, college, science, received, bachelor,. William Watson CMG FRS 4 August 1868 3 March 1919 was a British physicist and Lieutenant Colonel in World War I 1 2 After education at King s College School Watson studied under Arthur William Rucker and C V Boys at the Royal College of Science and received his bachelor s degree in 1890 1 At the Royal College of Science Watson was appointed demonstrator in physics in 1890 assistant professor in 1897 and professor in 1915 3 He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1901 1 At the beginning of his career Watson was an assistant to Professors A W Rucker and Thomas Edward Thorpe in the great magnetic survey of the British Isles from 1890 to 1895 He assisted C V Boys in radio micrometer experiments in timing the periodicity of spark generators electrical discharges and in photographing the flight of bullets He worked with J W Rodger in investigating the magnetic rotation of the plane of polarisation in liquids He designed and built self recording magnetographs which were used at Kew Eskdalemuir and other observatories His textbooks of physics Textbook of Physics Intermediate Physics and Practical Physics became popular and were widely used 1 As a member of the Expert and Technical Committee of the Royal Automobile Club Watson created specially designed instruments to investigate and develop the petrol motor He assisted W de W Abney in experiments on colour vision 1 Upon the poison gas attacks in April 1915 Watson was sent to France to experiment with defensive countermeasures and in May 1915 made the first Allied experiments on a gas cloud in the field In June 1915 the British Army established the Central Laboratory with Watson as director He was personally involved in the systematic collection and examination of the German shells and fuses used for the gas attacks During these field investigations he was frequently gassed with a variety of poisons In the last great gas attack of the war Watson was a victim and eventually succumbed in hospital 1 He is commemorated on the war memorial at Golders Green Crematorium 4 In addition to the Royal Automobile Club Watson was a member of the Savile Club 5 References edit a b c d e f Callendar H L 3 August 1920 William Watson 1868 1919 Proceedings of the Royal Society A 97 6874 i iii Lt Col W Watson C M G F R S Nature 103 2576 29 30 13 March 1919 Bibcode 1919Natur 103 29 doi 10 1038 103029a0 Gay Hannah 2007 The History of Imperial College London 1907 2007 pp 140 141 ISBN 9781908979445 Casualty Details Watson William Commonwealth War Graves Commission Retrieved 25 January 2021 Watson William FRS 1901 Who s Who 2101 1913 External links edit nbsp Works by or about William Watson at Wikisource Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Watson physicist amp oldid 1083161156, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
