William Robert Bousfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Bousfield
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| Born | 12 January 1854 |
| Died | 16 July 1943 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Bedford Modern School |
| Alma mater | Caius College, Cambridge |
William Robert Bousfield (1854–1943) was a talented British man who worked as a lawyer, a politician, and a scientist. He was known for his sharp mind and his many interests.
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About William Bousfield
William Robert Bousfield was born on January 12, 1854, in Newark-on-Trent, England. His father, Edward Tenney Bousfield, was an engineer. His mother, Charlotte Eliza Collins, was known for her diaries. William's family moved a few times when he was young, eventually settling in Bedford.
His Early Life and Education
William went to Bedford Modern School. After school, he trained to be an engineer. In 1872, he started studying at Caius College, Cambridge, and won a scholarship there in 1873. He was a very good student in mathematics, graduating in 1876.
After college, he briefly taught mathematics at the University of Bristol. In fact, he gave the university's very first lecture! But soon, he decided to study law instead.
Becoming a Lawyer
In 1880, William became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. Because he knew a lot about engineering, he became an expert in patent law. Patent law deals with protecting new inventions.
In 1891, he became a Queen's Counsel, a special title for experienced lawyers. Later, when a king was on the throne, this title changed to King's Counsel. He also held important roles at the Inner Temple, one of the professional homes for barristers in London.
His Time in Politics
William Bousfield was a member of the Conservative Party. He tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) twice in the 1880s but didn't win.
However, in May 1892, he won a special election to become the MP for Hackney North. He kept this seat in the elections of 1895 and 1900. He lost his seat in the 1906 election when the Liberals won many seats. After that, he didn't run for election again.
His Scientific Work
Even though he was a lawyer and politician, William was also a very keen scientist. He was especially interested in physical chemistry and electrolysis. This is the study of how electricity can cause chemical changes.
He worked with another scientist named T. M. Lowry. Their research was published in important scientific papers. In 1916, William became a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
Later in his life, when his health made it hard to do lab experiments, he started studying psychology. This is the study of the mind and how people think and behave. He wrote three books about psychology: A Neglected Complex (1924), The Mind and its Mechanism (1927), and The Basis of Memory (1928).
His Family Life
In 1879, William married Florence Kelly. They had two sons. One son, Paul Bousfield, became a specialist in nervous diseases. Their other son, John Keith Bousfield, was an army officer and businessman.
William Robert Bousfield passed away in Ottery St Mary in July 1943, when he was 89 years old.
