Birth of William Thomson
Birth of William Thomson
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
William Thomson Biography and Timeline
Follow William Thomson through 14 dated historical records for Great Britain.
William Thomson, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
14Distinct records
1 of 1Page
1824–1907Years on this page
1824
1834
University Matriculation
Matriculates at the University of Glasgow while still a child.
1848
Absolute Temperature Scale
Proposes an absolute thermodynamic temperature scale while professor at Glasgow.
Role range: 1846-1899
Discovery of Kelvin Scale
Proposes the absolute Kelvin scale for measuring temperature
1858
Invention of Galvonometer
Patents the mirror galvonometer
Patent
Patents the mirror galvonometer
1872
Invention of Tide Predictor
Invents a tide predictor
1881
Electric Lighting of University House
Creates one of the first houses in the world to be fully lit by electricity on the university campus.
Role range: 1846-1899
1888
Climate and Antarctic Ice Lecture
Discusses Antarctic ice and the role of oceans in climate at the Geological Society of Glasgow.
Role range: 1846-1899
1892
Peerage
Created Baron Kelvin, 1st
Role range: 1846-1899
1896
Kelvin Professorial Jubilee
Is honoured in Glasgow for fifty years as Professor of Natural Philosophy.
Role range: 1846-1899
1898
Wireless Telegram Experiment
Sends a wireless telegram to colleague George Gabriel Stokes during experiments in Glasgow.
Role range: 1846-1899
1899
Retirement from Glasgow Chair
Retires from the Chair of Natural Philosophy after fifty-three years.
Role range: 1846-1899
1907
Death of William Thomson
Death of William Thomson
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.