Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen

Biography

Abstract

Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen was awarded the 1901 Nobel Prize in Physics "in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered by the discovery of the remarkable rays subsequently named after him."

Important Dates

March 27, 1845Birth, Lennep, Prussia, Remscheid (Germany).

1869Obtained Doctorate in Physics without prior credentials, University of Zurich (Universität Zürich), Zurich (Switzerland).

1874Lecturer, University of Strasbourg (Université de Strasbourg), Strasbourg (France).

1875Professor, Academy of Agriculture, University of Hohenheim (Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule Hohenheim. Institut für Physik und Meteorologie), Württemberg (Germany).

1876Professor of Physics, University of Strasbourg (Université de Strasbourg), Strasbourg (France).

1879Chair of Physics, University of Giessen (Justus Liebig-Universität Giessen), Giessen (Germany : Landkreis).

1888Chair of Physics, University of Wurzburg (Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg), Wurzburg (Germany).

1896Awarded the Matteucci Medal, Accademia nazionale delle scienze dette dei XL.

1896Awarded the Rumford Medal, Royal Society.

1897Awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal, Franklin Institute.

1900 – 1923Chair of Physics, University of Munich (Universität München), Munich (Germany).

1901Awarded the first Nobel Prize in Physics "in recognition of the extraordinary services he has rendered by the discovery of the remarkable rays subsequently named after him".

1907Member, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen).

1923Death, Munich (Germany).

Occupation

Spectroscopic physicist.

Places

Birth

Remscheid (Germany)

Graduate Education

Zurich (Switzerland)

Employment

Strasbourg (France)

Württemberg (Germany)

Giessen (Germany : Landkreis)

Wurzburg (Germany)

Munich (Germany)

Death

Munich (Germany)

Subjects

Cathode rays.

Medical physics.

X-rays.

Relationships

People

Family

Ludwig, Anna Bertha

Wife, married 1872.

Advisors & Collaborators

Clausius, R. (Rudolf)

Advisor at University of Zurich.

Friedrich, Walter, 1883-1968

Adivsed by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Glocker, Richard, 1890-

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Hutchinson, A. (Arthur), 1866-1937

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Ioffe, A. F. (Abram Fedorovich), 1880-1960

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Keys, D. A. (David Arnold), 1890-

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Kundt, August, 1839-1894

Advisor at University of Zurich, University of Wurzburg, and University of Strasbourg.

Ladenburg, Rudolf Walter, 1882-1952

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Pringsheim, Peter, 1881-1963

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Wagner, Ernst 1876-1928

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Wien, Max, 1866-1938

Advised by Rontgen at University of Munich (Universität München).

Zeuner, Gustav, 1828-1907

Doctoral advisor at University of Zurich.

Colleagues

Helmholtz, Hermann von, 1821-1894

Both worked at University of Wurzburg.

Lorentz, H. A. (Hendrik Antoon), 1853-1928

Both worked at University of Wurzburg.

Additional

Bohr, Niels, 1885-1962

Coolidge, William David, 1873-1975

Debye, Peter J. W. (Peter Josef William), 1884-1966

Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955

Epstein, Paul S. (Paul Sophus), 1883-1966

Etter, Lewis Elmer

Glasser, Otto, 1895-1964

Korn, Arthur

Pick, Heinz, 1912-

Planck, Max, 1858-1947

Pohl, Robert Wichard, 1884-1976

Stokes, George Gabriel, 1819-1903

Thompson, Silvanus Phillips

Thomson, J. J. (Joseph John), 1856-1940

Wien, W. (Wilhelm), 1864-1928

Institutions

Major Positions

Bayerische Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg

Chair of Physics.

Justus Liebig-Universität Giessen

Chair of Physics.

Landwirtschaftliche Hochschule Hohenheim. Institut fur Physik und Meteorologie

Professor, Academy of Agriculture.

Universität München

Chair of Physics.

Universite de Strasbourg

Lecturer and Professor of Physics.

Professional Activities & Affiliations

Accademia nazionale delle scienze dette dei XL

Awarded the Matteucci Medal (1896).

Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Awarded the Elliott Cresson Medal (1897).

Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen

Member.

Royal Society (Great Britain)

Awarded the Rumford Medal (1896).

Universitat Zurich

Received Doctorate in Physics (1869).

Resources

Archival Resources

Author

Albert Einstein collection, 1896-1952.

Goldfarb Library. Special Collections

Brandeis University

415 South St., Waltham, MA 02254, USA

John Tatlock letters from scientists, 1858-1908.

Department of Manuscripts

British Library

96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, England

Silvanus Thompson letters to Wilhelm Röntgen, 1897.

Special Collection Library

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

James D. Hoskins Library, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA

W. Röntgen, M. Planck, and A. Einstein letters regarding Siemens prize, 1916.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Wilhelm C. Rontgen papers.

Deutsches Röntgen Museum.

Deutsches Röntgen Museum.

Schzelmerstrasse 41, 42897 Remscheid

Wilhelm Conrad Rontgen correspondence, 1901-1984.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Wilhelm Röntgen correspondence concerning the purchase of vacuum tubes, 1896.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Subject

Arthur Korn correspondence, 1898-1934.

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Columbia University

Butler Library, 6th Floor East, New York, NY 10027, USA

August Toepler papers, 1854-1912.

Archiv

Technische Universität Dresden.

0-8027 Dresden, Mommsenstr. 13

Collections relevent to the history of physics and allied science.

573 Universitätsarchiv Hohenheim.

Universität Hohenheim.

Postfach 700562, 7000 Stuttgart 70

Lectures by William Coolidge, L. E. Etter, and Niels Bohr [sound recording], 1938.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Heinz Pick, 1982 October 5.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral History interview with Paul S. Epstein, 1965.

Institute Archives

California Institute of Technology

1201 East California Blvd. (Mail Code 015A-74), Pasadena, CA 91125, USA

Oral history interview with Peter J. W. Debye, 1962 May 3 and 4.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Robert Wichard Pohl, 1963 June 25.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Oral history interview with Walter Friedrich, 1963 May 15.

Niels Bohr Library & Archives

American Institute of Physics

One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740, USA

Robert Wichard Pohl papers, 1900-1973.

Deutsches Museum

Museumsinsel 1, 80306 Munich, Germany

Published Resources

Author

Briefe an L. Zehnder; mit den beiträgen, Geschichte seiner entdeckung der Röntgenstrahlen und Röntgens einstellung zur renaissance der klassischen physik, von dr. Ludwig Zehnder …

Dr. W.C. Röntgen.

Röntgen rays : memoirs by Röntgen, Stokes, and J.J. Thomson / tr. and ed. by George F. Barker.

W.C. Röntgens grundlegende abhandlungen über die X-strahlen. Zum siebzigsten geburtstag des verfassers, herausgegeben von der Physikalisch-medizinischen gesellschaft in Würzburg. Mit 1 porträt.

X-rays and the electric conductivity of gases : comprising papers by W.C. Röntgen (1895, 1896) J.J. Thomson and E. Rutherford (1896) / with an historical introd. by N. Feather.

Zur Geschichte der Physik an der Iniversität Würzburg : Festrede zur Feier des dreihundert und zwölften Stiftungstages der Julius-Maxmilians-Universität, gehalten am 2ten Januar 1904.

Subject

Explorable: Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen And The Discovery Of X-Ray Beams

Röntgen rays centennial : exhibition on the occasion of the discovery of x-rays in Wurzburg on November 8, 1895.

Röntgen und die Niederlande : ein Beitrag zur Biographie Wilhelm Conrad Röntgens / W.A.H. van Wylick.

Rühmkorff, Röntgen, Regensburg : historische instrumente zur Gasentladung / Ein Seminarprojekt am Lehrstuhl für Wissenschaftsgeschichte der Universität Regensburg ; Unter Mitarbeit von Britta Görs et al.) ; Mit einem Beitrag von Markus Völk zur Röntgendiagnostik inregensburg heute ; vorgestellt von Christoph Meinel.

The life of Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, discoverer of the X ray, by W. Robert Nitske.

The new rays of Professor Röntgen.

This Day in History: November 8: German Scientist Discovers X-rays/ Rontgen Biography

Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen, 1845-1923 / [Par Ernst Streller, Rolf Winau, et Armin Hermann]

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen : Aufbruch ins Innere der Materie / Albrecht Fölsing.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen : unsichtbares wird sichtbar / Petra Scheutzel.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen and the early history of the Roentgen rays, by Otto Glasser. With a chapter, Personal reminiscences of W. C. Röntgen, by Margret Boveri.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Nobel Prize biography.

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen on a new kind of rays : a bibliographical study / Herbert S. Klickstein.