William Crookes

Born in London on June 17, 1832, William Crookes became one of the most influential British scientists of the 19th century. He studied at the Royal College of Chemistry under August Wilhelm von Hofmann and built a career that moved confidently between chemistry and physics.

Crookes is best remembered for discovering the element thallium and for his experiments with electrical discharge in low-pressure gases. His studies of cathode rays and the vacuum tube that bears his name helped shape later work in atomic physics, while the Crookes radiometer became one of his best-known inventions. He was knighted in 1897 and later served as president of the Royal Society.

Alongside his laboratory work, Crookes wrote and edited scientific publications and remained a visible public figure in Victorian science. He died in London on April 4, 1919, leaving behind a career marked by curiosity, technical skill, and a lasting influence on experimental physics.