John Cunningham McLennan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Cunningham McLennan
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London 1934
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| Born | October 14, 1867 Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | October 9, 1935 (aged 67) |
| Alma mater | University of Toronto |
| Awards | Flavelle Medal (1926) Royal Medal (1927) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
| Doctoral students | John F. Allen |
Sir John Cunningham McLennan (born October 14, 1867 – died October 9, 1935) was a very important Canadian physicist. A physicist is a scientist who studies how the world works, from tiny atoms to huge galaxies. Sir John was especially known for his work with very cold temperatures.
He was one of the first people in the world to successfully make liquid helium. He also led the physics laboratory at the University of Toronto for many years.
Contents
Sir John McLennan: A Pioneer in Physics
Growing Up and Learning
John Cunningham McLennan was born in a town called Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. This was on October 14, 1867. His parents were David McLennan and Barbara Cunningham. He later went to the University of Toronto to study physics.
Leading the Physics Lab
From 1906 until 1932, Sir John was the director of the physics laboratory at the University of Toronto. This meant he was in charge of all the important research and experiments happening there. He helped many students learn and discover new things.
Amazing Discoveries with Liquid Helium
Sir John McLennan made a huge scientific breakthrough. With his student, Gordon Merritt Shrum, he built a special machine called a helium liquefier. This machine could turn helium gas into a super-cold liquid.
In 1923, they were the second team in the entire world to successfully create liquid helium. This was a very difficult task. It happened 15 years after another scientist, Heike Kammerlingh Onnes, first did it. Making liquid helium is important for many scientific studies. It helps scientists understand how materials behave at extremely low temperatures.
Awards and Recognition
Sir John McLennan was recognized for his important work. In 1915, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.
He also gave a special talk called the Guthrie lecture in 1918. In 1926, he received the Flavelle Medal from the Royal Society of Canada. The next year, in 1927, he was given a Royal Medal. These awards showed how much his scientific contributions were valued.
His Final Years
Sir John McLennan passed away on October 9, 1935. He was traveling on a train from Paris to London, near a town called Abbeville in France. He died from a heart attack. He is buried next to his wife in Scotland, in a place called Stow of Wedale.
