Howard Turner Barnes 1873-1950

• Published in: Obituary notices of fellows of the Royal Society 1952-11, Vol.8 (21), p.24-35
• Main Author: Foster, John Stuart
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1479-571X; 2053-9118
• DOI: 10.1098/rsbm.1952.0003

Howard Turner Barnes rapidly came to prominence for his part in the high precision basic experiments in classical physics which first set an international standard in the science at McGill University. Most noteworthy are his determinations of the mechanical equivalent of heat and of the specific heat of water over the full range of temperature. Later he studied ice formation and became world famous, not only for his highly original and practical methods for the removal of ice jams, but for the great skill with which he used them. Born at Woburn, Massachusetts on 21 July 1873, Howard was the son of Reverend William S. Barnes, LL.D., and of Mary Alice ( Turner). At the age of six he came to Montreal with his parents. Here his father founded the Unitarian Church and is remembered as a noted clergyman of his time. Howard was tutored by Reverend John Williamson and attended Montreal Academy before entering McGill University. He received the degree of B.A.Sc. in 1893, just as the new Macdonald Physics Building was completed. Barnes immediately began a series of coordinated and well-sustained fundamental researches while at the same time holding posts in the University of rapidly increasing rank. He was appointed Macdonald Professor of Physics and Director of the Laboratory at the early age of thirty-four. Professor Barnes selected important research problems and quickly grasped the real practical difficulties of each problem in complete detail. While courage, imagination and resourcefulness were essential, the great amount of work done in a relatively short period demonstrates an intuition that was unfailing throughout his scientific life. The dispatch with which the work proceeded equally well in the laboratory or in the field cannot be dissociated from the nobility of Professor Barnes, and his charming simplicity.