William Henry Dines
Encyclopedia
William Henry Dines BA
FRS (5 August 1855 – 24 December 1927) was an English
meteorologist.
Dines was born in London
, the son of George Dines, also a meteorologist. He was educated at Woodcote House school, Windlesham
, and afterwards entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
, where he obtained a first-class in the mathematical tripos
in 1881. He afterwards carried out investigations for the Royal Meteorological Society
on the subject of wind forces, and in connexion with this work designed the Dines pressure-tube anemometer
.
In 1901 he commenced researches into the problems of the upper air, and designed or perfected several instruments for use with kites, as well as a form of the Hargraves
box-kite, which proved of great value. In 1905 he was appointed by the Meteorological Office director of experiments in connexion with the investigation of the upper air, and in 1907 designed a meteorograph
for use with balloons. He also produced, in conjunction with Dr. Napier Shaw
, the microbarograph and a recording mercury barometer, as well as various other instruments. From 1901 to 1902 he was President of the Royal Meteorological Society
and in 1905 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Although he was never a full-time academic, he was a member of the International Commission for Scientific Aeronautics, and became an honorary or corresponding member of various foreign scientific societies. He is the author of many important papers on the meteorology of the upper atmosphere which appeared in the Transactions of the Royal Society, the Geophysical Memoirs of the Meteorological Office and elsewhere.
He was also the father John Somers Dines
MA
and Lewen Henry George Dines MA
AMICE
, who both followed in his footsteps as meteorologists.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
FRS (5 August 1855 – 24 December 1927) was an English
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
meteorologist.
Dines was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of George Dines, also a meteorologist. He was educated at Woodcote House school, Windlesham
Windlesham
Windlesham is a village in the Surrey Heath district of Surrey in South East England. It is also the name of the parish that covers Bagshot and Lightwater, in addition to Windlesham...
, and afterwards entered Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, where he obtained a first-class in the mathematical tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
in 1881. He afterwards carried out investigations for the Royal Meteorological Society
Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society traces its origins back to 3 April 1850 when the British Meteorological Society was formed as a society the objects of which should be the advancement and extension of meteorological science by determining the laws of climate and of meteorological phenomena in general...
on the subject of wind forces, and in connexion with this work designed the Dines pressure-tube anemometer
Anemometer
An anemometer is a device for measuring wind speed, and is a common weather station instrument. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind, and is used to describe any airspeed measurement instrument used in meteorology or aerodynamics...
.
In 1901 he commenced researches into the problems of the upper air, and designed or perfected several instruments for use with kites, as well as a form of the Hargraves
Lawrence Hargrave
Lawrence Hargrave was an engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer.- Early life :Hargrave was born in Greenwich, England, the second son of John Fletcher Hargrave and was educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland...
box-kite, which proved of great value. In 1905 he was appointed by the Meteorological Office director of experiments in connexion with the investigation of the upper air, and in 1907 designed a meteorograph
Meteorograph
Meteorograph may be one of the following:*Barograph a pressure recording device*Thermo-hygrograph a pressure and temperature recording device...
for use with balloons. He also produced, in conjunction with Dr. Napier Shaw
Napier Shaw
Sir William Napier Shaw FRS, , was a British meteorologist. He introduced the air pressure unit millibar, as well as the tephigram, a diagram of temperature changes....
, the microbarograph and a recording mercury barometer, as well as various other instruments. From 1901 to 1902 he was President of the Royal Meteorological Society
Royal Meteorological Society
The Royal Meteorological Society traces its origins back to 3 April 1850 when the British Meteorological Society was formed as a society the objects of which should be the advancement and extension of meteorological science by determining the laws of climate and of meteorological phenomena in general...
and in 1905 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. Although he was never a full-time academic, he was a member of the International Commission for Scientific Aeronautics, and became an honorary or corresponding member of various foreign scientific societies. He is the author of many important papers on the meteorology of the upper atmosphere which appeared in the Transactions of the Royal Society, the Geophysical Memoirs of the Meteorological Office and elsewhere.
He was also the father John Somers Dines
John Somers Dines
John Somers Dines MA was an English meteorologist.Dines was born in the Cuckfield district, West Sussex, the son of meteorologist William Henry Dines BA FRS, and grandson of meteorologist George Dines. He graduated from Cambridge in 1906, with a degree in mathematics...
MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and Lewen Henry George Dines MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
AMICE
Amice
The amice is a liturgical vestment used mainly in the Roman Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, in some Anglican churches, Armenian and Polish National Catholic churches. It consists of a white cloth connected to two long ribbon-like attachments, by which it is fastened around the shoulders of the...
, who both followed in his footsteps as meteorologists.