Note 226 — Chapter XII · CAMBRIDGE—1871 TO 1879.

An account of the last years of Maxwell’s life would not be complete without a reference to his acquaintance with Professor H. A. Rowland, formerly of Troy, and now of the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Professor Rowland visited Maxwell more than once, and on these occasions much time was spent in comparing notes on electrical questions. Some instruments which Professor Rowland designed were not only identical with Maxwell’s in the relative dimensions of the several parts, but their absolute dimensions also were very nearly the same. After Maxwell’s death Professor Rowland pointed out some sources of error in the experimental determination of the Ohm as carried out at King’s College, and in the recent redetermination made by Lord Rayleigh in the Cavendish Laboratory these sources of error have been removed. Maxwell’s opinion of Professor Rowland was very high, and he frequently alludes to him in his correspondence, and more than once “Rowland of Troy, that doughty knight,” appears in his verses, where, as the American investigator in a certain branch of magnetic science studied here by Professor Oliver Lodge and Mr. Oliver Heaviside, he is in one place referred to as “One Rowland for two Olivers.” I well remember the interest with which Maxwell looked forward to Mr. Rowland’s first visit, and the meeting of “Greek and Trojan” on that occasion at Glenlair.