Known for his ground-breaking work in many fields, especially thermodynamics, Lord Kelvin also helped pioneer the use of underwater cables to facilitate transatlantic communication.

Born William Thomson in Belfast in 1824, Lord Kelvin would become one of the most eminent scientists of his age, distinguished in a number of fields, including physics, chemistry and engineering. However, it is for his research on temperature that he is perhaps best known.

While the existence of a coldest possible temperature was already known, Kelvin determined its correct value as approximately -273.15 degrees Celsius or -459.67 degrees Fahrenheit. Absolute temperatures are stated in units kelvin in his honour.

Bhí clú ar an Tiarna Kelvin as an obair cheannródaíoch a rinne sé in go leor réimsí, go háirithe i réimse na teirmidinimice. Chuidigh sé fosta le tús a chur le húsáid na gcáblaí faoi uisce le cumarsáid thrasatlantach a éascú.

Rugadh William Thomson i mBéal Feirste in 1824, agus chuaigh an Tiarna Kelvin ar aghaidh le bheith ar na heolaithe is mó le rá lena linn. Thuill sé clú in go leor réimsí, an fhisic, an cheimic agus an innealtóireacht san áireamh. Ach is fearr aithne air as an an taighde a rinne sé ar theocht. 

Cé go rabhthas ar an eolas fán teocht is fuaire agus is féidir cheana féin, d’oibrigh Kelvin amach an luach cheart ag thart fá -273.15 céim Celsius nó -459.67 céim Fahrenheit. Is in aonaid ceilvin a thomhaistear dearbhtheochtaí in ómós dó. 

Kelvin attended Glasgow University, publishing his first scientific paper aged just 16. He went on to Cambridge, where he studied mathematics and physics as well as classics, music and literature. 

At the age of just 22 he was appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, a position he would hold for 53 years. 

Kelvin’s interests in engineering led to a directorship of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, whose successful linking of India with Europe via the Persian Gulf in 1866 was regarded as one of the greatest technical achievements of the century. 

He was the first scientist to receive a peerage, taking the title 1st Baron Kelvin, in reference to the River Kelvin, which flows near the site of his laboratory at the University of Glasgow. 

There are many references to Kelvin in his native city. He is commemorated by a statue in Botanic Gardens and the house where he was born in College Square East (later home to the first cinema in Belfast) has since been redeveloped and is now a landmark state-of-the-art office building – called, naturally, The Kelvin.

D’fhreastail Kelvin ar Ollscoil Ghalschú, agus d’fhoilsigh sé a chéad pháipéar eolaíochta nuair nach raibh sé ach 16 d’aois. Chuaigh sé ansin go Cambridge, áit a ndearna sé staidéar ar an mhatamaitic agus an fhisic mar aon leis an léann chlasaiceach, ceol agus litríocht. 

Nuair nach raibh sé ach 22 d’aois, rinneadh Ollamh le Fealsúnacht Nádúrtha de in Ollscoil Ghlaschú, post a bhí aige fá choinne 53 bliana.

Mar gheall ar shuimeanna Kelvin san innealtóireacht, fuair sé stiúrthóireacht ar an Atlantic Telegraph Company. Measadh go raibh an nascadh rathúil a rinne siad idir an India agus an Eoraip trí Mhurascaill na Peirse sa bhliain 1866 ar na héachtaí teicniúla is mó a baineadh amach le linn na haoise sin. 

Ba é an chéad eolaí é fuair tiarnas, fuair sé an teideal 1ú Barún Kelvin, ag tagairt d’Abhainn Kelvin, a ritheann in aice lena shaotharlann in Ollscoil Ghalschú.

Tá go leor tagairtí do Kelvin ina chathair dhúchais. Tá dealbh i gcuimhne air i nGarraithe na Lus agus rinneadh athfhorbairt ar an teach inar rugadh é ar Chearnóg na hOllscoile Thoir (an chéad phictiúrlann i mBéal Feirste ina dhiaidh sin), agus is bloc oifigí suntasach úrscothach anois é - ar a dtugtar The Kelvin, ar ndóigh.