William Thomson
/ˌwɪljəm ˈtɒmsən/
/ˌwɪljəm ˈtɑːmsən/
- (1824-1907) a British physicist and inventor. He did much work on the laws of thermodynamics and in 1848 produced a temperature scale that later became known as the Kelvin Scale. He also did important work in the areas of magnetism and electricity. He invented many scientific instruments, especially for use at sea, and was involved in the laying of the first cable under the Atlantic. He was made a knight in 1866 and a baron in 1892.