The Life of James Clerk Maxwell

Abstract

James Clerk Maxwell (1831–1879) was a Scottish physicist well-known for his extensive work with electromagnetism, colour analysis, and kinetic theory. Considered by many to be a giant in his field with significant influence on the physicists who would follow, Maxwell spent time as a professor at Aberdeen University, King's College, London, and Cambridge. This 1882 Life by his friend Lewis Campbell and natural philosopher William Garnett represents an important – and lengthy – investigation into Maxwell's life and thought. Part I is concerned with biographical matters while the second section focuses upon his scientific mind. A third part contains Maxwell's poetry, so included because the poems are 'characteristic of him' and have 'curious biographical interest'. At nearly 700 pages, the Life represents an important starting point for those curious about the state of theoretical physics and the person in whom it reached its culmination in the nineteenth century.

Maxwell: la teoría electromagnética de la luz

“…Para aquellos interesados en el personaje, existen varias biografías escritas poco después de su muerte por amigos y conocidos (Campbell y Garnett, 1884;Glazebrook, 1896). Por otro lado, existen ediciones de sus escritos científicos recopilados (Niven, 1890).…”

REFLECTIONS ON MAXWELL'S TREATISE (Invited Paper)

“…In other words, Maxwell's notation in (8) is revised in the present paper to the more acceptable present-day notation in (9). I will refer to E as the electric field but use Maxwell's term "electromotive force" for E v , the force on a moving unit electric charge.…”

Interpreting neurodynamics: concepts and facts

“…More than half a century later, in 1873, Maxwell delivered an address at Cambridge University concerning the debate between determinism and free will in which he said (Campbell and Garnett 1882): It is a metaphysical doctrine that from the same antecedents follow the same consequences. No one can gainsay this.…”