David Thomson (physicist)
Prof David Thomson (1817–1880) was a 19th-century Scottish physicist.[1] He was known as Davie Thomson or later Auld Dauvit.
Life
He was born on 27 November 1817
From 1840 he acted as substitute Professor of Natural Philosophy (Physics) in place of
In 1863 he and a very young David Gill (then a young student) restored the university clock and also set up a fine telescope in the Cromwell Tower Observatory. It was Thomson who introduced Gill to astronomy.[5]
He died in his lodgings at Kings College on 31 January 1880. He is buried in the churchyard of St Machar's Cathedral. The grave lies east of the church.
Publications
- Acoustics - article in 9th edition of Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Caledonia Romana (1852)
Artistic recognition
A marble bust of Thomson by John Hutchison RSA is held by Aberdeen University.
Family
He was outlived by his wife, one son and three daughters.
At least five of his children died in infancy.
References
- ^ "The Discovery Service".
- ^ Grave of David Thomson, St Machars
- ^ ODNB: David Thomson
- ^ "David Thomson Aberdeen University".
- ^ "David Thomson Aberdeen University".