PIONEERS OF SCIENCE

NEWTON
From the picture by Kneller, 1689, now at Cambridge

PIONEERS OF SCIENCE

BY
OLIVER LODGE, F.R.S.
PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS IN VICTORIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LIVERPOOL




WITH PORTRAITS AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS

London

MACMILLAN AND CO.
AND NEW YORK
1893

Richard Clay and Sons, Limited,
LONDON AND BUNGAY.

PREFACE

This book takes its origin in a course of lectures on the history andprogress of Astronomy arranged for me in the year 1887 by three of mycolleagues (A.C.B., J.M., G.H.R.), one of whom gave the course its name.

The lectures having been found interesting, it was natural to write themout in full and publish.

If I may claim for them any merit, I should say it consists in theirsimple statement and explanation of scientific facts and laws. Thebiographical details are compiled from all readily available sources,there is no novelty or originality about them; though it is hoped thatthere may be some vividness. I have simply tried to present a livingfigure of each Pioneer in turn, and to trace his influence on theprogress of thought.

I am indebted to many biographers and writers, among others to Mr.E.J.C. Morton, whose excellent set of lives published by the S.P.C.K.saved me much trouble in the early part of the course.

As we approach recent times the subject grows more complex, and the menmore nearly contemporaries; hence the biographical aspect diminishes andthe scientific treatment becomes fuller, but in no case has it beenallowed to become technical and generally unreadable.

To the friends (C.C.C., F.W.H.M., E.F.R.) who with great kindness haverevised the proofs, and have indicated places where the facts could bemade more readily intelligible by a clearer statement, I express mygenuine gratitude.

University College, Liverpool,
November, 1892.

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