Charles Tomlinson (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Charles Tomlinson FRS was a British scientist.
, the founder of the London Mechanics' Institute. For a while, he had a school with his brother Lewis, at Salisbury
. Becoming known for original investigation, he was called to London, where he was appointed lecturer on experimental science at King's College School
. In 1872 he was elected to the Royal Society
, and in 1874 he took a leading part in founding the Physical Society. As a scientist Tomlinson made valuable contributions to the knowledge of the surface tension
of liquids. His last years were devoted to literature, and he held the Dante lectureship at University College 1878-1880.
Biography
He studied science under George BirkbeckGeorge Birkbeck
George Birkbeck was a British doctor, academic, philanthropist, pioneer in adult education and founder of Birkbeck College.-Biography:...
, the founder of the London Mechanics' Institute. For a while, he had a school with his brother Lewis, at Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
. Becoming known for original investigation, he was called to London, where he was appointed lecturer on experimental science at King's College School
King's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
. In 1872 he was elected to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, and in 1874 he took a leading part in founding the Physical Society. As a scientist Tomlinson made valuable contributions to the knowledge of the surface tension
Surface tension
Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force. It is revealed, for example, in floating of some objects on the surface of water, even though they are denser than water, and in the ability of some insects to run on the water surface...
of liquids. His last years were devoted to literature, and he held the Dante lectureship at University College 1878-1880.
Publications
He authored over 50 books and 100 published papers and notes, among which were:- Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts and Manufactures
- The Dew-drop and the Mist, a popular work (London, 1860)
- The magnet : familiarly described; and illustrated by a box of magnetic toys (1861)
- The Sonnet, Its Origin, Structure, and Place in Poetry (1874)
- a translation of Dante Aligheri's Inferno (1877)
- The Literary History of the Divine Comedy (1879)
- Dante, Beatrice, and the Divine Comedy (1894)
- a volume of original Sonnets (1881)