Hugh Longbourne Callendar
Encyclopedia
Hugh Longbourne Callendar FRS (18 April 1863 – 21 January 1930) was a British physicist
. He was born at Hatherop
as the eldest son of the Reverend Hugh Callendar, a local Anglican rector. He married Victoria Mary Stewart in 1894, and the couple had three sons--Leslie Hugh Callendar, Guy Stewart Callendar, and Max Victor Callendar--and a daughter, Cecil Callendar.
In 1893 Hugh was appointed Professor of Physics at McGill University
in Montreal
, Canada
. Leslie, Cecil and Guy were born during this time at McGill. Hugh designed the first X-Ray experiments in Canada which produced satisfactory images used in hospitals. He returned to England in 1898 to assume the Quain chair in physics
at the Royal College of Science
and was succeeded at McGill by Ernest Rutherford
, the "father" of nuclear physics, who wrote that Callendar was regarded as a "universal genius." In 1906 Callendar received the Rumford Medal
for his experimental work on heat.
In 1907, Callendar took a professorship at Imperial College, London
, where he would remain until his death in 1930. He did much research on the properties of steam at high temperatures, and during the first World War used x-ray imaging technology to improve aircraft engines.
Hugh's interests and hobbies included astronomy
, nature study, competitive shooting, gymnastics
, soccer, tennis
, and handicraft, including automotive mechanics.
He died at home in Ealing
, of pneumonia
.
Among Callendar's inventions was a rolling-chart thermometer
that allowed long-duration collection of climatic temperature data.
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...
. He was born at Hatherop
Hatherop
Hatherop is a village and civil parish in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, about north of Fairford in Gloucestershire. The River Coln forms part of the western boundary of the parish.-History:...
as the eldest son of the Reverend Hugh Callendar, a local Anglican rector. He married Victoria Mary Stewart in 1894, and the couple had three sons--Leslie Hugh Callendar, Guy Stewart Callendar, and Max Victor Callendar--and a daughter, Cecil Callendar.
In 1893 Hugh was appointed Professor of Physics at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Leslie, Cecil and Guy were born during this time at McGill. Hugh designed the first X-Ray experiments in Canada which produced satisfactory images used in hospitals. He returned to England in 1898 to assume the Quain chair in physics
Quain Professor
Quain Professor is the professorship title for certain disciplines at University College, London, England. The title is derived from Richard Quain who became professor of anatomy in 1832 at what was to become UCL...
at the Royal College of Science
Royal College of Science
The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...
and was succeeded at McGill by Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford
Ernest Rutherford, 1st Baron Rutherford of Nelson OM, FRS was a New Zealand-born British chemist and physicist who became known as the father of nuclear physics...
, the "father" of nuclear physics, who wrote that Callendar was regarded as a "universal genius." In 1906 Callendar received the Rumford Medal
Rumford Medal
The Rumford Medal is awarded by the Royal Society every alternating year for "an outstandingly important recent discovery in the field of thermal or optical properties of matter made by a scientist working in Europe". First awarded in 1800, it was created after a 1796 donation of $5000 by the...
for his experimental work on heat.
In 1907, Callendar took a professorship at Imperial College, London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
, where he would remain until his death in 1930. He did much research on the properties of steam at high temperatures, and during the first World War used x-ray imaging technology to improve aircraft engines.
Hugh's interests and hobbies included astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, nature study, competitive shooting, gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, soccer, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and handicraft, including automotive mechanics.
He died at home in Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
.
Among Callendar's inventions was a rolling-chart thermometer
Thermometer
Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer is a device that measures temperature or temperature gradient using a variety of different principles. A thermometer has two important elements: the temperature sensor Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer (from the...
that allowed long-duration collection of climatic temperature data.
External links
- Callendar, Hugh Longbourne at www.cartage.org.lb