I was interested to read James McPherson's letter relating how Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell's achievements are largely unknown in the UK (August 8).
I was interested to read James McPherson's letter relating how Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell's achievements are largely unknown in the UK (August 8).
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Added to this is the failure of the Royal Mail to acknowledge his outstanding achievements by issuing a commemorative stamp.
Unfortunately, the situation is even worse than that.
In Basil Mahon's biography of Mr Maxwell he recounts how, to mark the tricentenial celebration of the Royal Society, the Queen referred to a list, presumably provided by the Society, of its most outstanding members. Mr Maxwell's name was not among them. This at a time when other foreign countries were commemorating his life and achievements.
It would be only just if the Royal Mail were to open its collective mind and issue a stamp in memory of this modest and brilliant scientist, whose portrait Einstein kept in his study along with that of Newton. Perhaps Newton is the greatest of them all but Einstein displayed characteristic insight when he described Maxwell's work as the "most profound and useful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton".
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Requirements of thermal stations
I was interested to read James McPherson's letter relating how Scottish mathematical physicist James Clerk Maxwell's achievements are largely unknown in the UK (August 8).
Added to this is the failure of the Royal Mail to acknowledge his outstanding achievements by issuing a commemorative stamp.
Unfortunately, the situation is even worse than that.
In Basil Mahon's biography of Mr Maxwell he recounts how, to mark the tricentenial celebration of the Royal Society, the Queen referred to a list, presumably provided by the Society, of its most outstanding members. Mr Maxwell's name was not among them. This at a time when other foreign countries were commemorating his life and achievements.
It would be only just if the Royal Mail were to open its collective mind and issue a stamp in memory of this modest and brilliant scientist, whose portrait Einstein kept in his study along with that of Newton. Perhaps Newton is the greatest of them all but Einstein displayed characteristic insight when he described Maxwell's work as the "most profound and useful that physics has experienced since the time of Newton".
Christopher Gilfedder,
91 Langbar Crescent,
Glasgow.
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We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
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