Life and Letters of James David ForbesFirst published in 1873, this co-authored biography of the Scottish physicist, Alpine explorer, and university leader James David Forbes (1809-1868) includes extracts from Forbes' letters. John Campbell Shairp, Forbes' successor as principal of the United College of the University of St Andrews, writes of Forbes' personal, family, and professional life, including his years at St Andrews. Forbes' student and his successor in the Natural Philosophy chair at the University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait, himself an accomplished mathematical physicist who co-wrote, with Lord Kelvin, Treatise on Natural Philosophy (1867), discusses Forbes' scientific achievements and contributions. A. Adams-Reilly, a celebrated Irish mountaineer, cartographer, and friend of Forbes, writes of the latter's Alpine travels and his work and interest in glaciers. In Shairp's words, in addition to all of his academic accomplishments, Forbes was also Britain's 'father of Alpine adventure'. |
Contents
CHAPTER II | 20 |
TRAVELS 18261839 | 23 |
CHAPTER III | 37 |
CHAPTER IV | 54 |
CHAPTER V | 93 |
CHAPTER VI | 112 |
CHAPTER VII | 160 |
CHAPTER IX | 256 |
CHAPTER XI | 353 |
CHAPTER XII | 394 |
CHAPTER XIII | 438 |
CHAPTER XIV | 457 |
CHAPTER XV | 492 |
APPENDIX | 521 |
APPENDIX | 544 |
CHAPTER X | 296 |
Other editions - View all
Life and Letters of James David Forbes John Campbell Shairp,Peter Guthrie Tait,A. Adams-Reilly Limited preview - 2025 |
Common terms and phrases
Agassiz Airy Alpine Alps Andrews appeared August Balmat beautiful believe Brewster British Association Cambridge Chamounix character Col du Géant Colinton College Courmayeur course crevasses delightful doubt early Edinb Edinburgh experiments extracts fact favour feel feet Fettercairn following letter Forbes's friends give Glace glacier heat hope interest JAMES DAVID FORBES James Forbes Journ Journal kind labours lectures London meeting Mer de Glace mind Mont Blanc Montanvert moraines motion Natural Philosophy névé never observations paper passed Phil physical Pitlochrie polarization Porrentruy present Principal Forbes Professor Forbes Professor Tyndall recollect Rendu rock Royal Society scientific Scotland seems session side Sir John Leslie Sir William snow spent Studer summer surface theory things thought tion took tour Travels University valley weather Whewell winter writing



