Life and Scientific Work of Peter Guthrie Tait - School of Mathematics ...

PREFACE
AT the time of his death in 1901 Professor P. G. Tait had just finished
editing the Second Volume of his Collected Scientific Papers. The
series is now completed by this Memorial Volume whose preparation I
undertook at the request of Mrs Tait, who kindly placed a great deal of
material at my disposal, and who, together
with the other members of the
family, has been closely in touch with the work as it proceeded.
Professor Crum Brown, the late Professor's brother-in-law and colleague
for over 30 years, closely associated himself with the work. His knowledge
and judgement were always at my service.
Lord Kelvin at the outset afforded me much useful information generally
about events of an early date, especially certain facts connected with the
preparation of "The Treatise on Natural Philosophy," a work unfortunately
never completed.
The proofs have been read by Dr A. W. Ward, Master of Peterhouse,
and Mr J. D. Hamilton Dickson, Fellow and Tutor of Peterhouse, to
both of whom I am deeply indebted for many valuable criticisms and
suggestions ; and for similar helpful services my sincere thanks are also
due to Professor J. G. MacGregor and Professor W. Peddie.
The interest expressed by others among Professor Tait's friends and
students has greatly encouraged me in my work. Their reminiscences of
the Natural Philosophy Class Room or Laboratory, and their memory of
the stimulating character of the teaching, will be found reflected in the
pages
which follow.
In arranging the material I have been influenced largely by one consideration—
the convenience of the reader. The opening chapter, including the
description of Professor Tait on holiday in St Andrews, indebted to Mr J. L. Low, gives simply
for which
the main facts of the Life.
I am
The
various aspects of the Scientific Work are taken up, in more or less detail,
in the succeeding chapters.