James Bowman Lindsay

James Bowman Lindsay

1799 – 1862

1799 Born 8th September at Cotton of Westhills, Parish of Carmyllie

1799 Baptised 13th September before the Associate Congregation of Dunbarrow

Childhood at "Windyedge", Carmyllie

Apprenticed linen weaver

1820 Matriculated at St Andrews University, aged 22

Classes taken

1820/21 Junior Latin, Junior Greek

1821/22 Senior Greek, Junior Mathematics, Logic

1822/23 Senior Latin, Mathematics 2 and 3, Ethics

1825/26 Physics, Chemistry

In summer holidays, taught Carmyllie children in the school built for him at Dilty Moss

1828 Began compiling Pentacontaglossal Dictionary

1829 Appointed lecturer in Mathematics and Sciences at the Watt Institution, Dundee

Organised classes in magnetism and electricity

1832 Demonstrated electric telegraph in classroom

1833/34 Divinity Occasional (registered student but not residential)

1833 Took up residence in South Tay Street, Dundee

1835 25th July obtained constant electric light and demonstrated this in Thistle Hall 31st July

1835 Electric arc welding proposed

1836 Demonstration of electric light at Thistle Hall, Dundee

1840 Moved to South Union Street, Dundee

1841 Appointed teacher in Dundee Prison at a salary of £50 per annum

1843 Proposed uninsulated submarine cable with earth-batteries across the Atlantic

1845 Telegraphic messages on two wires reported in "Northern Warder"

1845 Electric welding proposed for Trans-Atlantic cable

1846 Published Pentacontaglossal Paternoster

1849/52 "Chrono-Astrolabe" in preparation

1853 Proposed wireless transmission (through water) across the Atlantic

1853 Carolina Port, Dundee, transmission of 120 feet

1853 Lecture in Glasgow entitled "Telegraphy to Other Countries"

1853 Earl Grey Dock, Dundee, transmission

1854 Granted Patent No. 1242

"A Mode of Transmitting Messages by Means of Electricity through and across a Body or Bodies of Water"

1854 Dundee to Woodhaven transmission, 2 miles across the River Tay

1854 Portsmouth transmission, 500 yards across a pool

1858 Published "Chrono-Astrolabe"

1858 Granted a pension of £100 p.a. by government for services to science

1858 Relinquished teaching post at Dundee Prison

1859 Paper to the British Association at Aberdeen and gave demonstration across the River Dee

Commendations by Lord Rosse, Michael Faraday, Sir G. B. Airy (Astronomer Royal) and Prof. J. J. Thomson (Lord Kelvin)

1861 Published treatise on baptism and joined Baptist Church

1862 Died Sunday, 29th June, buried in Western Necropolis, Perth Road, Dundee

1899 Marble bust by George Webster presented to Dundee Free Library

1901 Marble tombstone erected by public subscription

Unveiled by Sir William Preece, K.C.B., Postmaster General

Graveside eulogy by Sir John Leng, M.P., one of Lindsay's former pupils