John William Strutt, third baron Rayleigh, O.M., F.R.S., sometime president of the Royal society and chancellor of the University of Cambridge / by his son Robert John Strutt, fourth baron Rayleigh.

  • Rayleigh, Robert John Strutt, Baron, 1875-1947.
Date:
1924
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: John William Strutt, third baron Rayleigh, O.M., F.R.S., sometime president of the Royal society and chancellor of the University of Cambridge / by his son Robert John Strutt, fourth baron Rayleigh. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    For his early years, the best information available is from an account written by his sister Clara, afterwards Mrs. John Paley, who was only two years younger than himself,1 and I propose to quote textually most of the earlier part of this, as any attempt to paraphrase or seriously condense it would be certain to spoil its freshness. 44 I have always been told that my brother John was slow in learning to speak. As far as I can remember he was said to be three years old before he could talk, but was a very intelligent child, taking great notice of everything. My mother said when she took him out driving he would point to one object after another saying, 4 Ah, Ah, Ah ! ’ and not be satisfied till she said, ‘ Yes, that is a house ’ or 4 a dog ’ or even 4 a tree.’ When first seen by his grandfather Col. Strutt the observation made was 4 That child will either be very clever or be an idiot.’ It was I imagine the shape of his head that drew forth the remark. 44 He nearly met with his death at Langford Grove when about twenty months old, the Nurse left the door open, and he got out and tried to walk downstairs. He rolled from step to step bumping his head on each one, but fortunately was saved from the final bump by a maid who was coming upstairs and caught him. His little head was black and blue after¬ wards. 44 This was the first of many narrow escapes in his boyhood. Once at Southend he fell off a jetty into the water, a rough sea, having over-balanced himself in the excitement of throwing sticks into the waves for a dog to fetch out. Col. Hearn who was talking to my mother on the beach rushed into the water and pulled him out. I can remember thanks being returned in church by 4 the parents of John William Strutt ’ for his preservation on that occasion. 1 This note was written at my request about 1909 and was found among her papers after her death. It seems to have been left un¬ finished, but no doubt the gradual and inevitable separation of in¬ terests as they grew older made a satisfactory conclusion difficult, and it contains most of what the writer was specially qualified to tell.