Sir Oliver Lodge, English physicist, 1904

Sir Oliver Lodge, English physicist, 1904. Chromolithograph by Vincent Brooks, Day and Son Ltd of a caricature by Leslie Ward, better known as Spy, from 'Vanity Fair' magazine. Sir Oliver Lodge (1851-1940) studied at the Royal College of Science and at University College, London. In 1881 he became professor of physics at Liverpool University, and then in 1900 was appointed first principal of the newly founded Birmingham University. Lodge was a pioneer of radio-telegraphy and also a firm believer in the paranormal. During his career he carried out various psychical investigations, his findings lending credibility to a field often dismissed by conventional science. He was also one of the leading scholars of his day and wrote over 100 books. He was knighted in 1910. Dimensions: 400mm x 270mm. ©SSPL/Science Museum