Torquay, Devon

Mathematical Gazetteer of the British Isles


William Froude (1810-1879) was the pioneer in the study of hydraulics and ship design, working for the Admiralty for many years. He introduced the idea of testing models of ship designs - based on Froude's Law which says that wave effects are similar if the velocity is reduced proportionally to the square root of the length. The Admiralty built him a testing tank at Torquay - see also Dumbarton. He also used Bidder's steam launch to tow models. Eponym of the Froude Number. [1]

Oliver Heaviside (1850-1925) lived at "Homefield", Lower Warberry Road, Torquay, from 1908. See London for his work and early life, and Paignton and Newton Abbot. After the relative who kept house for him died in 1916, he lived alone, becoming even more reclusive than previously. He was frequently behind with his rates (= property taxes) and his gas was cut off several times, once for 15 months. The third volume of his Electromagnetic Theory appeared in 1912 and the set was reprinted in 1922 and 1925. Hon. Mem. American IEE in 1918. In 1923, the IEE awarded him its first Faraday Medal and the PIEE travelled to Torquay to present it to him. He died in a nursing home and was buried in Paignton. [2]


References (show)

  1. Clark, E. F. George Parker Bidder - The Calculating Boy. KSL Publications, Bedford, 1983. p.489
  2. Whittaker, Edmund T. Laplace. Math. Gaz. 33 (No. 303) (1949) 1-12. (3)

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