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.

  • Robert Strutt, 4th Baron Rayleigh
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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    were made upon the skill and perseverance of an amateur than at present, and the opportunities of picking up scientific experience were proportionately increased. The process was comparatively new, having been introduced in 1851. The first beginning in photography that he made is probably to be found in a print still extant of a fern leaf on writing paper, sensitized with nitrate of silver and common salt, presented to his mother December 31st, 1857 (cet. 15). Wet collodion portraiture followed, and the various dry collodion processes were successively mastered at a somewhat later date. He went on with portrait photography until a short time after his marriage ; after that it was abandoned, being probably crowded out by more purely scientific pursuits : but photo¬ graphy in its scientific applications always had a fascination for him, and there will be occasion to refer to this later on. He wrote from Torquay (May, 1860):—“ Our holidays begin on the 17th July, though I must try to make [Mr. Warner] let me go a day before, as I wish to photograph the eclipse on the 18th. A great number of English and American astron¬ omers are going to Spain to see it, as it will be from Spain the greatest eclipse of this century.” In spite of his growing knowledge, relatives of the older generation were not prepared to defer to his views on scientific matters. There had been a severe frost, with the usual trouble of burst waterpipes. Some one implied that the thaw had caused the mischief. John : It is the frost that does it, not the thaw. Uncle -1: Come, John, you can’t expect us to swallow that; the pipes leak when it thaws, not when it freezes. John : Well, you don’t expect the solid ice to flow out of the pipes, do youj? Here is a reminiscence of his own. “ At a country house (Ranston) when I was a boy the conver¬ sation turned upon wine, and the host (Sir T. Baker) said to an expert present, 41 wish you would give me your opinion upon some I have of uncertain history.’ Much ceremony was observed. 1 A public schoolmaster, perhaps a little inclined to carry his pro¬ fessional attitude into private life.