Unfulfilled renown: Thomas Preston (1860–1900) and the anomalous Zeeman effect

Summary

When leading spectroscopists in Europe and America were engaged, during 1897, in exploring the recently-discovered Zeeman Effect, they were overtaken by a relatively obscure phsicist working in Dublin. Thomas Preston had previously been known only for his excellent textbooks. His achievement in discovering the Anomalous Zeeman Effect was immediately recognized, but his untimely death has deprived posterity until now of a full account of his life and qualities.

This paper is based on a contribution to the Symposium on Science and Institutions in Ireland and Britain held in Academy House, Dawson Street, Dublin from 8–12 July 1985, which was arranged jointly by the Royal Irish Academy and the British Society for the History of Science.

This paper is based on a contribution to the Symposium on Science and Institutions in Ireland and Britain held in Academy House, Dawson Street, Dublin from 8–12 July 1985, which was arranged jointly by the Royal Irish Academy and the British Society for the History of Science.

Notes

This paper is based on a contribution to the Symposium on Science and Institutions in Ireland and Britain held in Academy House, Dawson Street, Dublin from 8–12 July 1985, which was arranged jointly by the Royal Irish Academy and the British Society for the History of Science.