"Mount where science guides,
Go measure earth weigh air, and state the tides,
Instruct the planets in what orbs to run,
Correct old time regulate the sun."

The above lines aptly describe Sir William Thomson. A Scottish engineer, mathematician and physicist, all rolled into one, had one of the keenest and most versatile minds that answered every call of science. He investigated and studied each branch of physical science. His inventions aided the development of industry and the welfare of his fellowmen. His discoveries and researches are truly remarkable, especially the submarine cable and the improved mariner’s compass.

One of his closest friends Helmholtz had written to Kelvin’s wife about his impression of his great contemporary, "I expected to find the man, who is one of the first mathematical physicists of Europe, somewhat older than myself and was not a little astonished when a juvenile and exceedingly fair youth, who looked quite girlish, came forward….He far exceeds all the great men of science with whom I have made personal acquaintance, in intelligence, lucidity, and nobility of thought, so that I felt quite wooden beside him sometimes."

His was a vast contribution to science. This included development of thermodynamics, the absolute scale, the dynamical theory of heat, mathematical analysis of electricity etc. Moreover, he also invented the mirror galvanometer used as signaling device and the siphon recorder, which is still in use for receiving signals.