Person Wiedemann; Gustav Heinrich (1826 - 1899); physicist Wiedemann Gustav Heinrich physicist 1826 - 1899 German Male Berlin, Germany, Europe 02 October 1826 18261002 Leipzig, Germany, Europe 23 March 1899 18990323 Burial: Mausoleum of the Mitscherlich family, Old St. Matthew's Cemetery, Schöneberg, near Berlin, Germany

physicist Magnetism Physics Chemistry Education: Private school; Cölnische Humanistische Gymnasium (1838); Uiversity of Berlin PhD (1847) Career: Professor of Physics, Basel (1854-1863); taught at Brunswick and at Carlsruhe; Professor of Physical Chemistry, Leipzig (1871); Professor of Physics, Leipzig; studied the thermal conductivity of metals. Memberships: Royal Saxon Society of Sciences (1871) Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala (1877) Royal Physiographic Society in Lund (1877) Prussian Academy of Sciences (1879) Bavarian Academy of Sciences (1880) Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (1883) Parents: Son of a Berlin merchant who died two years after Gustav Heinrich's birth. His mother died in 1842, after which he lived with his grandparents. Spouse: (1851) Clara, daughter of Eilhard Mitscherlich (For Mem RS 1828). Children: Eilhard Ernst Gustav Wiedemann (physicist) and Alfred Wiedeman (Egyptologist). Found the connection between electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity in metals. Investigated the polarization of light. Determined the length of a mercury column. Remembered for the Wiedemann-Franz's law, an empirical law governing the ratio of electrical and thermal conductivity of metals. Foreign Member 31/01/1884 58 William Grylls Adams William de Wiveleslie Abney William Henry Mahoney Christie William Withey Gull Thomas Lauder Brunton Osbert Salvin Hugo Miller Warren De la Rue George Gabriel Stokes Michael Foster Alexander William Williamson Jon Evans Thomas Henry Huxley Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DSB Obituaries: Proc Roy Soc 1905 vol 75 pp 41-43 signed by G C F References: Rudolf Reiger: Wiedemann, Gustav Heinrich. In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Vol. 55, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1910, pp. 67–70. International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 RCN R68151 RCN R68153 2 Oct 1826 - 23 Mar 1899 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 23/10/2024 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA6666 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 17/03/2026 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes 2f8864ca-c5fa-4123-9db7-d599af57f175