| RefNo | MS/603/3/104 |
| Previous numbers | 503 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Letter from Geo Fras [George Francis] Fitzgerald, 6 Windsor Terrace, Malahide, to [Joseph] Larmor |
| Creator | FitzGerald; George Francis (1851-1901); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Recipient | Larmor; Sir Joseph (1857-1942); Irish theoretical physicist |
| Date | 31 August 1899 |
| Description | Fitzgerald ruminates over those responsible for making appointments. He thinks that the requirements for a physical laboratory and working methods could be supplied and he believes that the need for manual dexterity is often overestimated in this context and can be provided by others. Lord Kelvin was not dexterous, but he was intensely ingenious. Fitzgerald thinks that Larmor could easily worry out what was wrong in cases where an advanced experiment would not work. He thinks that Larmor would like Cambridge better, but compares the work he might do in both Cambridge and Glasgow. Larmor might produce papers at St John's and make a great advance in science, but this is a 'perhaps'. Going to Glasgow might promote Larmor's chances of gaining a position of influence, such as succeeding Sir G. [George Gabriel] Stokes. Fitzgerald discusses the benefits of marriage versus batchelerhood, and the need for an income for the former. If Larmor became tired of Glasgow, Cambridge would be glad to have him back. Fitzgerald is 'all in favour of ambition', but is also in favour of the immediately useful. Work on a theory of aether and its structure could not have immediate influence on mankind's fortunes, although he allows to impact of [Charles] Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species' theory on human thought. |
| Extent | 8p. |
| Format | Manuscript |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA7971 | Fitzgerald; George Francis (1851 - 1901) | 1851 - 1901 |