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
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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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    it seems has definitely declined and there is a danger that some resident may get promises unless a proper candidate is soon in the field. There is no one here in the least fit for the post. What is wanted by most who know anything about it is not so much a lecturer as a mathematician who has actual experience in experi¬ menting, and who might direct the energies of the younger fellows and batchelors [of arts] into a proper channel. There must be many who would be willing to work under a competent man, and who, while learning themselves, would materially assist him. There would I am told be every disposition on the part of authori¬ ties to help the new Professor. I hope you may be induced to come ; if not I cannot imagine who it is to be. Do not trouble yourself to answer me about this, as I believe others have written to you about it. Yours very truly, John W. Strutt. The latter part of this letter was published in Maxwell’s biography, somewhat indiscreetly as my father thought. Shortly afterwards he wrote home from Cambridge :— “ I have been lingering on mainly to hear Maxwell’s decision about standing for the Professorship of experimental physics here. Some people thought that if he would not, I was the proper per¬ son. It is now I believe nearly certain that he will come, and so I am relieved of having to make a difficult decision. Maxwell has reported favourably on my paper on Resonance for the Phil. Trans, which I shall accordingly have to review. . . ” He first heard of the acceptance of this paper on Resonance (of flasks and bottles) from Lord Salisbury, who characteris¬ tically remarked, “ We had your broken bottles at the Royal Society Council the other day.” Maxwell wrote (March 15th, 1871) :— “ Many thanks for your good wishes with respect to the new professorship. I always looked forward to it with much interest tempered with some anxiety when it was merely to be erected in the University. I now take your good wishes as personal to myself and my anxiety has developed into responsibility. “ I hope you will be in Cambridge occasionally yourself for it will need a good deal of effort to make Exp. Physics bite into our university system which is so continuous and complete without it. E