James Clerk Maxwell
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Summary
James Clerk Maxwell was born on June 13, 1831[1], in Edinburgh[2]. He died on November 5, 1879[3], in Cambridge[4]. He worked as a physicist[5], mathematician[6], inventor[7], photographer[8], and university teacher[9]. He ranks in the top 0.56% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (15,025 views/month, #5,602 of 1,000,298).[10]
Key Facts
- Place of burial: Westminster Abbey[11], Parton Churchyard[12]
- Father: John Clerk-Maxwell of Middlebie[13]
- Mother: Frances Cay[14]
- Spouse: Katherine Clerk Maxwell[15]
- Country of citizenship: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland[16]
- Native language: English[17]
- Ethnic group: Scottish people[18]
- Occupation: theoretical physicist[19], teacher[20], thermodynamicist[21], scientist[22]
- Field of work: physics[23], mechanics[24], mathematics[25], electromagnetic field[26], electricity[27], magnetism[28], color photography[29], kinetic theory[30]
- Position held: Cavendish Professor of Physics[31]
- Employer: King's College London[32], University of Aberdeen[33], University of Cambridge[34], Marischal College[35]
- Educated at: University of Edinburgh[36], Peterhouse[37], Edinburgh Academy[38], Trinity College[39], University of Cambridge[40]
- Doctoral advisor: William Hopkins[41]
- Award received: Fellow of the Royal Society[42], Rumford Medal[43], Royal Society Bakerian Medal[44], Keith Medal[45], Adams Prize[46], Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh[47], Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame[48], Smith's Prize[49]
- Member of: Royal Society[50], American Academy of Arts and Sciences[51], Royal Society of Edinburgh[52], Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences[53], Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony[54]
- Religion or worldview: Christian socialism[55]
- Sex or gender: male[56]
- Doctoral student: Horace Lamb[57], George Chrystal[58], John Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh[59]
- Commons category: James Clerk Maxwell[60]
- Cause of death: stomach cancer[61]
Body
Works and Contributions
Things named for James Clerk Maxwell include Maxwell's equations[62], Maxwell's demon[63], Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution[64], Maxwell[65], Maxwell relations[66], Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics[67], Maxwell stress tensor[68], and Maxwell Montes[69].
Why It Matters
James Clerk Maxwell has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[70] He is known by 28 alternative names across languages and contexts.[71]
He has been cited as an influence by Albert Einstein[72], a theoretical physicist[73], 1879–1955[74], of Kingdom of Württemberg[75], awarded the Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to Science[76], specialised in theoretical physics[77].
He is credited with the discovery of unified field theory[78], a concept[79]. Works attributed to him include A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field[80], an academic journal article[81] and A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism[82], a literary work[83]. Entities named for him include Maxwell's equations[62], Maxwell's demon[63], Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution[64], Maxwell[65], Maxwell relations[66], and Maxwell–Boltzmann statistics[67].
His notable doctoral advisees include John William Strutt[84], John Henry Poynting[85], Horace Lamb[86], George Chrystal[87], and Richard Glazebrook[88].
FAQs
Where was James Clerk Maxwell born?
James Clerk Maxwell's place of birth was Edinburgh[2].
Where did James Clerk Maxwell die?
James Clerk Maxwell died in Cambridge[4].
Who were James Clerk Maxwell's parents?
James Clerk Maxwell's father was John Clerk-Maxwell of Middlebie[13]. James Clerk Maxwell's mother was Frances Cay[14].
Who was James Clerk Maxwell married to?
James Clerk Maxwell's spouses include Katherine Clerk Maxwell[15].
What did James Clerk Maxwell do for work?
James Clerk Maxwell worked as a physicist[5], mathematician[6], inventor[7], photographer[8], and university teacher[9].
Where did James Clerk Maxwell go to school?
James Clerk Maxwell was educated at University of Edinburgh[36], Peterhouse[37], Edinburgh Academy[38], and Trinity College[39].
What awards did James Clerk Maxwell receive?
Honors received include Fellow of the Royal Society[42], Rumford Medal[43], Royal Society Bakerian Medal[44], and Keith Medal[45].
Who did James Clerk Maxwell influence?
James Clerk Maxwell has been cited as an influence by Albert Einstein[72].
What did James Clerk Maxwell discover?
James Clerk Maxwell is credited as discoverer of unified field theory[78].