George Kimball Burgess
Encyclopedia
George Kimball Burgess was an American
physicist
, considered one of the most notable scientists of his era. He authored and translated numerous studies, was a leading member and president of many scientific societies and, for the last nine years of his life, served as director of the National Bureau of Standards.
A native of the Massachusetts
city of Newton
, bordering on Boston
, George Burgess was the son of Charles A. Burgess and his wife Addie L. Kimball. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
with a B.S. degree in 1896 and, in 1901, received from the University of Paris
his Sc.D. with "very honorable mention", the highest commendation accorded to a doctorate. During his time in Paris
, he met and married Suzanne Babut and, following his return to the U.S., served as physics instructor at MIT
and at the universities of Michigan
and California
.
In 1903 he became associate physicist in the National Bureau of Standards
, paying particular attention to pyrometric
researches. Besides translating Henry Louis Le Chatelier's High Temperature Measurements (1901), and Pierre Duhem
's Thermodynamics and Chemistry, he published his 1901 French-language dissertation, Recherches sur la constante de gravitation as well as Experimental Physics, Freshman Course (1902), The Measurement of High Temperatures (with Le Chatelier, 1911; third edition, revised, 1912) and A Micropyrometer (1913). He also served, from 1911, as editor of Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. He was renowned as a top expert in metallurgy
and, during World War I
, developed, with other scientists, multiple instruments for military use, including those designed for camouflage
, radio communication and aeronautics
. In 1923, he became second director of the National Bureau of Standards and held the post until his death.
George Burgess, who was a member of the foreign service as well as a number of government consultative bodies, was in the midst of consultations regarding the ongoing financial crisis when he suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage in his Washington
office and died on the way to Emergency Hospital. He was 58 years old, and was survived by his wife, Suzanne.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
, considered one of the most notable scientists of his era. He authored and translated numerous studies, was a leading member and president of many scientific societies and, for the last nine years of his life, served as director of the National Bureau of Standards.
A native of the Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
city of Newton
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
, bordering on Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, George Burgess was the son of Charles A. Burgess and his wife Addie L. Kimball. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
with a B.S. degree in 1896 and, in 1901, received from the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
his Sc.D. with "very honorable mention", the highest commendation accorded to a doctorate. During his time in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he met and married Suzanne Babut and, following his return to the U.S., served as physics instructor at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and at the universities of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
.
In 1903 he became associate physicist in the National Bureau of Standards
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
, paying particular attention to pyrometric
Pyrometer
A pyrometer is a non-contacting device that intercepts and measures thermal radiation, a process known as pyrometry.This device can be used to determine the temperature of an object's surface....
researches. Besides translating Henry Louis Le Chatelier's High Temperature Measurements (1901), and Pierre Duhem
Pierre Duhem
Pierre Maurice Marie Duhem was a French physicist, mathematician and philosopher of science, best known for his writings on the indeterminacy of experimental criteria and on scientific development in the Middle Ages...
's Thermodynamics and Chemistry, he published his 1901 French-language dissertation, Recherches sur la constante de gravitation as well as Experimental Physics, Freshman Course (1902), The Measurement of High Temperatures (with Le Chatelier, 1911; third edition, revised, 1912) and A Micropyrometer (1913). He also served, from 1911, as editor of Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. He was renowned as a top expert in metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
and, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, developed, with other scientists, multiple instruments for military use, including those designed for camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
, radio communication and aeronautics
Aeronautics
Aeronautics is the science involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of airflight-capable machines, or the techniques of operating aircraft and rocketry within the atmosphere...
. In 1923, he became second director of the National Bureau of Standards and held the post until his death.
George Burgess, who was a member of the foreign service as well as a number of government consultative bodies, was in the midst of consultations regarding the ongoing financial crisis when he suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage in his Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
office and died on the way to Emergency Hospital. He was 58 years old, and was survived by his wife, Suzanne.