The Great Westmen:
Science and Technology
James Clerk Maxwell
Featured Accomplishment: The equations that bear his name.
Scottish mathematical physicist
Born: June 13, 1831, Edinburgh, UK
Died: November 5, 1879, Cambridge, UK
Born: June 13, 1831, Edinburgh, UK
Died: November 5, 1879, Cambridge, UK
James Clerk Maxwell was a Scottish scientist in the field of mathematical physics. His most notable achievement was to formulate the classical theory of electromagnetic radiation, bringing together for the first time electricity, magnetism, and light as different manifestations of the same phenomenon (as formulated in the equations that bear his name).
Maxwell was the first to accurately describe the composition and the reason for the stability of the rings of Saturn.
Maxwell also showed that color blindness was due to individuals being unable to recognize red light and he conclusively proved the theory of three primary colors: that any natural color could be produced from red, green and blue. Maxwell’s work in optics led to color matching experiments and Colorimetry, the science and technology that is used to quantify and describe physically human color perception. Maxwell also applied the theory of color perception in photography. He reasoned that if any three lights could reproduce any perceivable color, then color photographs could be produced with a set of three colored filters. In 1861 he created the first color photograph.
He was the first to apply the methods of probability and statistics in describing the properties of gases. Maxwell is also recognized as the father of control theory, being the first to understand the importance of feedback to control theory.
The unit of magnetic flux, the Maxwell (in the centimeter-gram-second, cgs unit system) is named in his honour.
Maxwell was the first to accurately describe the composition and the reason for the stability of the rings of Saturn.
Maxwell also showed that color blindness was due to individuals being unable to recognize red light and he conclusively proved the theory of three primary colors: that any natural color could be produced from red, green and blue. Maxwell’s work in optics led to color matching experiments and Colorimetry, the science and technology that is used to quantify and describe physically human color perception. Maxwell also applied the theory of color perception in photography. He reasoned that if any three lights could reproduce any perceivable color, then color photographs could be produced with a set of three colored filters. In 1861 he created the first color photograph.
He was the first to apply the methods of probability and statistics in describing the properties of gases. Maxwell is also recognized as the father of control theory, being the first to understand the importance of feedback to control theory.
The unit of magnetic flux, the Maxwell (in the centimeter-gram-second, cgs unit system) is named in his honour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hello, my name is Joseph Montag. I happen to have the same last name as the protagonist in the novel Fahrenheit 451. In the novel, Montag works as a fireman that destroys the cultural memory of his people by burning books. If
the book were written today he would also be tearing down statues. Realizing his folly, he has a change of heart and
instead of destroying the cultural memory of his people, he begins to save it.
As a Westman I endeavor to preserve our cultural memory and educate fellow Westmen as to the accomplishments of Westernkind. I feel it is important to keep our story alive and focused upon the marvelous achievements of us as a people. I never realized that the depth and breadth of our achievements was so wide and deep until I came to White wellbeing and began investigating what was hidden from me in plain sight. I had become deracinated and disconnected from my people. Now I am shaking off my White noir, taking pride in Westernkind and reconnecting with my people at multiple levels, both online and in real life.
I like researching and studying the stories of individual Westmen because it puts a human face on it and exposes the bond of kinship we all have to those Westmen that came before us. I hope these stories help you better understand and connect with Westernkind, with the Westman inside of you. It is our story, it is in us all, and each of us writes a new chapter everyday.
As a Westman I endeavor to preserve our cultural memory and educate fellow Westmen as to the accomplishments of Westernkind. I feel it is important to keep our story alive and focused upon the marvelous achievements of us as a people. I never realized that the depth and breadth of our achievements was so wide and deep until I came to White wellbeing and began investigating what was hidden from me in plain sight. I had become deracinated and disconnected from my people. Now I am shaking off my White noir, taking pride in Westernkind and reconnecting with my people at multiple levels, both online and in real life.
I like researching and studying the stories of individual Westmen because it puts a human face on it and exposes the bond of kinship we all have to those Westmen that came before us. I hope these stories help you better understand and connect with Westernkind, with the Westman inside of you. It is our story, it is in us all, and each of us writes a new chapter everyday.