Arthur Rucker facts for kids
Sir Arthur William Rucker was a very smart British scientist. He was born in London, England, in 1845. He became famous for studying physics, which is about how the world works, like energy and forces. He also helped lead big universities.
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Arthur Rucker's Journey in Science
Arthur Rucker went to Oxford University. He earned his first degree there in 1871. From 1871 to 1876, he was a Fellow at the college. This means he was a senior member who taught and did research.
Later, he became a Professor of Physics. He taught at Yorkshire College, Leeds, from 1874 to 1885. He was the very first "Cavendish Professor" there. After that, he taught physics at the Royal College of Science from 1886 to 1901.
In 1901, he took on a big role. He became the Principal of the University of London. This means he was the main leader of the entire university. He also received special "honorary degrees" from Cambridge and Oxford universities in 1902. These degrees are given to people who have achieved great things.
Joining the Royal Society
In 1884, Arthur Rucker was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group for top scientists. In 1889, he gave a special talk called the "Bakerian Lecture" for the Royal Society.
He also won the Royal Society's "Royal Medal" in 1891. He received this award for his important studies on liquid films. He also won it for his work on understanding Earth's magnetism. From 1896 to 1901, he was a Secretary for the Royal Society. This was an important job helping to run the society.
Because of all his hard work, he was made a knight in 1902. King Edward VII himself gave him this honor at Buckingham Palace.
Giving Public Lectures
In 1889, Arthur Rucker was asked to give the famous Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. These lectures are special talks about science. They are often given to young people during the Christmas holidays. He spoke about electricity.
Arthur Rucker's Political Attempts
Arthur Rucker also tried to get involved in politics. In 1885, he ran for election to Parliament. He was a candidate for the Liberal Party in Leeds. He lost that election by a small number of votes.
The next year, in 1886, he tried again. This time, he ran as a candidate for the Liberal Unionist Party. This was a new group that had split from the Liberals. He ran in a different area called Pudsey. But he lost that election too.
His Family Life
Arthur Rucker's first wife passed away in 1878. In 1892, he married Thereza Story-Maskylene. She was also a very interesting person. She was a strong supporter of "domestic science." This field focuses on making homes better and more efficient.
