Charles Chree facts for kids
Charles Chree (born May 5, 1860 – died August 12, 1928) was an important British scientist. He was an expert on the Earth's natural magnetism and the electricity in our atmosphere. For 32 years, he was the leader of the Kew Observatory, a famous scientific center.
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Early Life and Education
Charles Chree was born in Lintrathen, Scotland, on May 5, 1860. He was the second son of Reverend Charles Chree.
He went to school at the Grammar School in Old Aberdeen. Later, he studied at the University of Aberdeen, where he earned his MA degree in 1879. He then continued his studies at the University of Cambridge. In 1883, he graduated as the Sixth Wrangler, which means he was one of the top math students in his year.
Scientific Achievements
Charles Chree was recognized for his important work in science. In 1897, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
He wrote many scientific papers about different topics. These included how pressure affects magnets and how heat moves through liquids. He also studied how different forces change the shape of solid objects.
Awards and Leadership
Chree received several important awards for his research:
- In 1905, he won the James Watt medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers.
- In 1919, the Royal Society gave him the Hughes Medal. This was for his deep studies into the Earth's magnetism.
He also held important leadership roles in scientific groups:
- He was the President of the Physical Society of London from 1908 to 1910.
- He served as president of the Royal Meteorological Society from 1922 to 1923. This society focuses on weather and climate.
Work at Kew Observatory
In 1893, Charles Chree became the Superintendent of Kew Observatory. This was a very important job that he kept for 32 years, until 1925.
At Kew, he was in charge of testing many scientific tools. These included clocks, watches, and thermometers. If an instrument passed his strict tests, it would receive a special "Kew Certificate." This certificate showed that the instrument was very accurate and reliable.
Legacy
Charles Chree received advanced degrees for his work. He earned a D.Sc. from Cambridge in 1895 and an LL.D. from Aberdeen in 1898.
A special award, the Chree Medal and Prize, was named after him. This award is given by the Institute of Physics to honor achievements in physics. The name of the award was changed in 2008, but it still remembers his contributions.
Later Life
Charles Chree passed away on Sunday, August 12, 1928, in Worthing, Sussex. He was never married.
