James Thomson Bottomley facts for kids

James Thomson Bottomley (born January 10, 1845 – died May 18, 1926) was an important British physicist. He was born in Ireland.

He is famous for his work on how heat travels, called thermal radiation. He also created special tables called logarithm tables. These tables helped people do very long multiplication and division problems much faster. Before calculators, these tables turned hard math into simpler addition and subtraction.

Early Life and Education

The grave of James Thomson Bottomley, Western Necropolis, Glasgow

James Thomson Bottomley was born on January 10, 1845. His birthplace was Fort Breda in County Down, Ireland. His father, William Bottomley, was a merchant.

His mother, Anna Thomson, was the sister of a very famous scientist, William Thomson, Lord Kelvin. This family connection was helpful throughout James's life.

He went to college at Queens College, Belfast. Later, he studied at Trinity College, Dublin. He focused on natural philosophy, which is an old name for science, and chemistry.

A Career in Science

James Bottomley started his career helping other scientists. His first job was assisting Thomas Andrews in Belfast. After that, he worked at King's College London. He taught chemistry and then physics there.

In 1870, he moved to Glasgow University. He became a physics teacher, known as a Demonstrator. In 1875, his job title changed. This was because of a gift from the wife of another scientist, Neil Arnott.

His uncle, Lord Kelvin, helped him become a member of important science groups. In 1872, he joined the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Later, in 1888, he became a member of the even more famous Royal Society in London. Being a member of these groups showed that his scientific work was highly respected.

First X-ray Demonstration

James Bottomley played a part in an exciting scientific event. On February 5, 1896, he helped show the first X-ray in Scotland. His uncle, Lord Kelvin, had received information about X-rays from Röntgen. Lord Kelvin was ill, so he asked James to handle the demonstration.

James Bottomley worked with Dr. John Macintyre. Dr. Macintyre was an expert in electricity at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Together, they made the X-ray demonstration happen.

Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird

In 1899, James Bottomley and his uncle, Lord Kelvin, started a company. It was an engineering firm called Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird (K.B.B.). The company made special gauges and meters. They also produced loudspeakers and telephones.

James became the chairman of this company in 1908. In 1913, the company became a Limited Company. He lived in Glasgow at 13 University Gardens during this time.

James Thomson Bottomley passed away in Glasgow on May 18, 1926. His grave is in the Western Necropolis in Glasgow. The company he helped create, Kelvin, Bottomley and Baird, continued until 1947.

Family Life

James Thomson Bottomley was married two times. His first wife was Annie Elizabeth Heap from Manchester. His second wife was Eliza Jennet Blandy. She was the daughter of Charles R Blandy from Madeira.

His famous uncles were William Thomson, Lord Kelvin and James Thomson.