James Gray (mathematician)

James Gordon Gray FRSE MInstEE (1876 – 6 November 1934) was a Scottish mathematician and physicist.

James Gray
Born	1876 Glasgow, Scotland
Died	6 November 1934 Dowanhill, Glasgow
Nationality	Scottish
Citizenship	United Kingdom
Alma mater	Glasgow University (BSc Eng, DSc 1908)
Scientific career
Fields	Mathematics Physics
Institutions	Assistant lecturer of physics, Glasgow University (1904) Senior lecturer of physics, Glasgow University (1908) Professor of applied physics, Glasgow University (1920–34) Glasgow University.

Life

He was born in Glasgow in 1876, the third of eight children to Andrew Gray and his wife, Annie Gordon. He was educated at Friars Grammar School, in Bangor, Caernarvonshire, Wales, where his father was employed by the university.[1] He attended the University College of North Wales until 1899, when his father and family moved back to Glasgow.[2]

He studied engineering at Glasgow University and graduated BScEng. He then was employed by the university as a lecturer in physics from 1904. The university gave him a doctorate (DSc) in 1908. During the First World War he assisted with naval and aerial defence.[2]

From 1920 to 1934 he was professor of applied physics at Glasgow University.

In 1909 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were his father, Andrew Gray, William Jack, Cargill Gilston Knott and George Chrystal.

He died in Dowanhill in Glasgow on 6 November 1934. He did not marry and had no children.[3]

Publications

• Dynamics (1911) co-written with his father

obituary.

PROFESSOR JAMES GORDON GRAY, D.Sc.

Source Glasgow Herald 8 Nov 1934

World-Famous Authority on Gyroscopes

We deeply regret to announce the death of Professor James Gordon Gray D.Sc F.R.S.E., M.I.E.E., of the Cargill Chair of Applied Physics in the University of Glasgow which took place as his residence, La Mancha, Downhill yesterday evening. He succumbed suddenly to a heart attack.

Professor Gray had a notable scientific career, his resource as an inventor have been eminently displayed throughout his life in the application of the gyrostat to practical problems, a branch of applied science in which he was an acknowledged authority. He carried through a long series of researches on gyroscopes as applied to devices for various purposes of aerial and marine navigation and national defence which attracted considerable attention both at home and abroad.

INVENTIVE GENIUS

At the time of his appointment to the University of Glasgow, Professor Gray had already become widely known for his original scientific work, and high testimony was borne to his genius by a number of the most distinguished men of science in this country and in the United States. Just previous to that he had been asked to render scientific assistance by directing the gyroscopic control of the photographic apparatus to be employed in a great scheme of mapping and surveying by means of photography from aeroplanes, which had begun in the United States.

That furnished testimony of a very direct kind to the soundness of his gyroscopic control apparatus, for the advisers of the corporation who were carrying out that work, after examining all the various control appliances in existence, informed him that they found none to compare in accuracy with his apparatus.

DEMONSTRATIONS BEFORE THE KING AND QUEEN

Demonstrations of Professor Gray's original work were from time to time given to the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and also to the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, in which he took an active interest, and where his service as president of the Mathematical and Physical Section were much appreciated. In 1925, in the presence of the King and Queen, Professor Gray gave demonstrations before the Royal Society of London.

He carried through many experiments on the magnetism of bodies at low temperatures, from those of liquid air upwards, and a long series of researches on gyroscopes as applied to various purposes of naval and aerial warfare and navigation.

He was one of the leading research workers in gyrostatics among the Allied scientists during the Great War, and made some valuable contributions to aeronautic discoveries in the form of gyroscopic instruments for cloud flying and bomb sighting. Work in this connection was highly appreciated by the technical experts of the British and American Governments; indeed, in the course of the War he was invited by the United States Government to take charge of gyroscopic development at Washington, but he preferred to carry on his work in his home country.

AIRCRAFT APPLIANCES

Professor Gray devoted a great deal of his time to the development of gyroscopic combinations and their practical application. For many years he was hard at work perfecting apparatus and methods for use in the production of gyroscopic helms and stabilisers for use on aerial and marine craft.

He was the inventor of a series of appliances for use in aerial and marine navigation and national defence, such as artificial horizons, cloud-levelling apparatus, and steering devices.

He also invented motor gyrostats and accessories and many new spinning tops. He was the pioneer inventor of the inductor compass use by Colonel Lindbergh in his famous Atlantic flight.

He was the author of numerous scientific papers, including 'A Treatise on Dynamics' a valuable text-book which was written in collaboration with his father. His last is now in the press and will be published shortly. It is entitled 'Gyroscopic Pendulums' and consists of the Thomas Gray lectures which he delivered this year before the Royal Society of Arts, London.

Quote from An Appreciation, following the obituary:

The department of Natural Philosophy had gained during his father's occupancy of the Chair, a reputation as a school of dynamics; and Professor Gray maintained and enhanced that reputation both by his class lectures and by his gyroscopic researches, a study initiated by LORD KELVIN and extended by Professor Andrew Gray.

The late Professor G. A. Gibson once remarked of him that he possessed a dynamical intuition amounting to genius. His scientific work did not always receive the publicity it merited; since much of it had been carried out on behalf of Government departments, his discoveries had to be treated as confidential.

THE TIMES, 8 Nov 1934

Obituary: PROFESSOR GRAY

GYROSTATIC RESERCH AND INVENTION

The death occurred at his residence in Glasgow on Tuesday night, at the age of 58, of Professor James Gordon Gray, D. Sc., F.R.S.E., Cargill Professor of Applied Physics in the University of Glasgow. He was unmarried.

He had a world-wide reputation as an expert in gyroscopic work and an inventor in the application of the gyrostat to practical problems. He did notable research on gyroscopes as applied to devices for various purposes of aerial and marine navigation.

Educated at Friars Grammar School, Bangor, the University College of North Wales, and Glasgow University, he was a son of the late Professor Andrew Gray, F.R.S. who was also an enthusiast in gyroscopic work, and with whom he wrote a 'Treatise on Dynamics". He became an independent lecturer and senior assistant in the Department of Physics at Glasgow in 1920, and was appointed to the Cargill Chair after he had declined similar professorships in America.

He had been asked to direct the gyroscopic control of the photographic apparatus to be employed in a great scheme of mapping and surveying by means of photography from the air that had been begun in the United States. This invitation was given to him after advisors of the corporation who were carrying out the work had reported that they found no apparatus to compare with his in accuracy.

Professor Gray gave frequent demonstrations of his work to the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh, and to the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, of which he was a keen member and was president of the mathematical and physical section. During the War his work was of particular value, for he conducted a long series of researches on gyroscopes for naval and areal warfare, and made several important discoveries in the improvement of instruments for cloud flying and bomb sighting. So greatly were these services appreciated by the Allied nations that he was invited by the United States Government to take charge of gyroscopic development at Washington, but he preferred to continue working for his own country. Among his inventions for use in aerial and marine navigation were artificial horizons, cloud-levelling apparatus, and steering devices, and he perfected methods for use in the production of gyroscopic helms and stabilisers for aerial and marine craft.

He was responsible for the production of the inductor compass used by Colonel Lindbergh in his Atlantic flight, produced many motor gyrostats and accessories, and frequently gave popular demonstrations with his spinning tops.

He published many scientific papers, the last of which entitled 'Gyroscopic pendulums,’ is now in the press, and consists of the Thomas Gray lectures which he delivered this year to the Royal Society of Arts.

Cambridge Daily News 7 Nov 1934

MAN WHO MADE FLYING SAFER

Death of Professor J. G. Gray

Professor James Gordon Gray, the inventor of the inductor compass, used by Col. Lindbergh in his Atlantic flight, and many other appliances for use in aerial and marine navigation and defence, died in Glasgow today.

Professor Gray had been Cargill Professor of Applied Physics at Glasgow University since 1920. He was the man who made flying safe.

Among his inventions were:

Motor gyrostats.

Gyroscopic helms and stabilisers.

Artificial horizons

Cloud levelling apparatus.

Steering devices and many new spinning tops.

Professor Gray was regarded as one of the foremost British scientific inventors.

OFFER THAT WAS DECLINED

His researches attracted considerable attention at home and abroad.

Previous to his appointment at Glasgow University in 1920, Professor Gray had been invited to accept a professorship in America. He was also informed that on behalf of a number of citizens of Pittsburgh it was proposed to institute a special professorship in the departments of applied physics, for which laboratories, workshops etc. were to be provided, and he was asked whether, if that was done, he would accept the appointment. He declined both proposals in favour of a continuance of his work at Glasgow University.

During the war he was one of the leading research workers for the British and American Governments.

Professor Gray, who was educated at Friar's Grammar School Bangor, University College of North Wales and Glasgow University, planned the building and equipping of the natural philosophy department of Glasgow University with his father the late Professor Andrew Gray.

References

1. Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002: Biographical Index (PDF). I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
2. O'Connor, John J.; Robertson, Edmund F., "James Gordon Gray", MacTutor History of Mathematics archive, University of St Andrews.
3. BIOGRAPHICAL Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.