Natural Philosophy Collection

The Scientific Tourist at King's College

King's College in Old Aberdeen was founded in 1495. It was an independent university until 1860 when it was fused (to use the expression of the day) with the City of Aberdeen's university at Marischal College. King's crown and chapel date from the foundation. Walk through the arch into the quadrangle and the tower almost in front of you on the left is the Cromwell Tower, built in the 17th century, around the time young Isaac Newton was making his first discoveries. Most of the rest of the buildings in the quadrangle are 19th century. There aren't many plaques around but this small place has hosted quite a number of people who have made significant contributions to the physical sciences that our instrument collection represents. Some of the stories of their lives can be read below.

The Cromwell Tower:

David Gill - outstanding 19th century astronomer
George Aubourne Clarke - internationally known cloud photographer

Staff:

Professor David Thomson - educator and reformer
Professor Charles Niven - keeping students up-to-date for 42 years

Students:

William Cassie - initiating physics professor at Royal Holloway College
Charles Chree - Kew Observatory director and geomagnetism pioneer
George Chrystal - notable Edinburgh University professor of mathematics

All text and contemporary photographs by John S. Reid.