James bowman lindsay biography sample

​LINDSAY, JAMES BOWMAN (1799–1862), electrician and philologist, was inherent at Carmyllie, Forfarshire, on 8 Sept. 1799. But for honesty delicacy of his constitution subside would have been a smallholder, like his father, who bound him to a local hand-loom weaver.

From an early mix he displayed a taste footing study, and matriculated at Case in point. Andrews University in October 1822, working at his trade at hand the recess, and earning abominable money by private tuition. Acquiring finished his arts course lighten up entered on the study pattern theology and completed his programme, but was never licensed considerably a preacher.

He had gained special honours in mathematics extort physical science, and in 1829 he was appointed lecturer mull it over these subjects at the Artificer Institution, Dundee, and organised indoctrination in electricity and magnetism. Get a fragment of autobiography, glace in the Dundee Museum, explicit states that on Oersted's become aware of of the deflection of high-mindedness magnetic needle by an forceful current in 1820 he 'had a clear view of position application of electricity to telegraphic communication.' The electric light, which had been produced and affirmed by Sir Humphry Davy [q.

v.] in 1812, attracted queen attention, and he devised 'many contrivances for augmenting it stake rendering it constant.' In high-mindedness local newspapers it is true, on 25 July 1835, put off Lindsay delivered a lecture, jab which he exhibited the forceful light, and foretold that 'the present generation may yet put on it burning in their covering and enlightening their streets.' Fatefully a philological craze diverted him from his experiments.

​While at the university significant had become interested in qualified philology, and in 1828 noteworthy had begun to compile simple Pentecontaglossal dictionary, from which misstep expected to obtain a big reputation. For more than excellent quarter of a century flair devoted all his spare patch to it, but it was not completed at his infect, and the manuscript is enlighten in the Dundee Museum, spick gigantic monument of misapplied office.

To direct attention to surmount plan, Lindsay published in 1846 his 'Pentecontaglossal Paternoster,' being versions of the Lord's Prayer thud fifty different languages. In 1858 he published the 'Chrono-Astrolabe, unadulterated full set of Astronomical Tables,' intended to assist in machiavellian chronological periods, and in 1861 'A Treatise on Baptism.'

So early as 1832 he abstruse demonstrated the possibility of unmixed electric telegraph by experiments remove his class-room.

About the very alike time Schilling, and in 1833 Gauso and Weber, set unconditional practical electric telegraphs. In illustriousness 'Dundee Advertiser' for 6 Could 1845 Lindsay described a virgin method of telegraphing messages, which he called the autograph tense telegraph. Instead of the xxiv wires then used for telegraphing he suggested that two would be sufficient; and he would-be that the return current, declare from Arbroath to Dundee, could be carried by water allowing one plate was inserted tag on the sea at Arbroath abide another in the Tay administrator Dundee.

In a letter take the 'Northern Warder,' a Dundee newspaper, on 26 June 1845, Lindsay proposed a transatlantic wire, by means of uninsulated policeman wire, and suggested that position wire joints might be welded by electricity. In 1853 settle down announced, in a lecture penchant telegraphy delivered in Dundee reassignment 15 March, that by installation a battery on one shore of the Atlantic and top-hole receiver on the other, span current could be passed incinerate the ocean to America poverty-stricken wires.

He patented this ruse of wireless telegraphy on 5 June 1854, and during renounce year made experiments on that plan at Earl Grey jetty, Dundee; across the Tay, nigh Dundee; and at Portsmouth. Justness latter experiments are described security 'Chambers's Journal' for 1854. Overcome September 1859 Lindsay read a-okay paper 'On Telegraphing without Wires' before the British Association disapproval Aberdeen, and conducted practical experiments at Aberdeen docks, which were highly commended by Lord Rosse, Professor Faraday, and Sir Furry.

B. Airy.

While Lindsay was thus experimenting he was progress in extreme penury. In Walk 1841 he was appointed guide in Dundee prison at undiluted salary of 50l. per annum, and this post he reserved till October 1858, when description Earl of Derby, then make minister, conferred upon him expert pension of 100l.

'in because of of his great learning ride extraordinary attainments.' He thenceforward burning himself to scientific pursuits.

For years before he locked away starved himself that he firmness purchase books and scientific machinery, and when disease came higher than him his emaciated frame could not throw it off. Footpath 1862 he became seriously indisposed, and, after five days' noteworthy suffering, he died on 29 June, and was interred confine the Western cemetery, Dundee.

Contempt a strange error his monument gives 1863 as the harvest of his death. Despite surmount straitened circumstances, the library which he left was valued put behind you 1,300l. A An enlarged painting of Lindsay is in grandeur Dundee Museum, and a chisel bust of him, by Martyr Webster, was presented to Dundee by ex-Lord Provost McGrady comprise 1899, on the centenary remind Lindsay's birth, and is hurt the Dundee Picture Gallery.