LORENTZ, HENDRIK ANTOON

(1853–1928)

Physicist. After fin ishing his studies of mathematics and physics at Leiden University, Lorentz became a teacher at the high school in his birthplace Arn hem. In 1877, Lorentz was appointed the first professor of theoreti cal physics at Leiden University. His research was concentrated at first in the field of electromagnetism. He and his pupil Pieter Zeeman (1865–1943) were awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1902. Later on, he also studied relativity, gravitation, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics. Lorentz took part in many international scien tificcongresses. He was also actively interested in questions of peace and social welfare. His collected papers were published in nine vol umes (1934–1939).