William Thomson (later Lord Kelvin) was arguably the most famous member of the department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. He was born on the 26 June 1824 in Belfast Ireland, and was part of a large family whose mother died when he was aged six. His father taught Kelvin and his brothers mathematics to a level beyond that of university courses of the time. Kelvin's father accepted a post at the University of …showed first 75 words of 986 total…

…showed last 75 words of 986 total…been professor there for 53 years. In the year 1890 he became the president of the Royal Society and held that position until 1895. He was created Baron Kelvin of Largrs in 1892 and in 1902 received the Order of Merit. After a long and fruitful career, publishing over many papers and being granted numerous patents Kelvin died at his home on the 17th of December, 1907, in his estate close to Largrs, Scotland. He is buried at Westminster Abbey, London.