Lorentz, Hendrik Antoon557
Prize: Physics, 1902. Born: July 18, 1853; Arnhem, Netherlands. Death: February 4, 1928; Haarlem, Netherlands. Parents: Father, Gerrit Frederik Lorentz; Mother, Geertruida van Ginkel Lorentz. Nationality: Dutch. Religion: Protestant. Education: Univ. of Leiden, Netherlands, B.Sc., 1871; Univ. of Leiden, Netherlands, Ph.D., 1875. Spouse: Aletta Kaiser, married 1881. Children: Geertruida Luberta, daughter; Johanna Wilhelmina, daughter; Rudolf, son; fourth child died in infancy. Career: Univ. of Leiden, Netherlands, Professor, 1878–1912; Teyler Laboratory, Haarlem, Netherlands, Director, 1912–23. Other Awards: Rumford Medal, Royal Society, 1908; Copley Medal, Royal Society, 1918.
Selected Publications:Lectures on Theoretical Physica. 8 volumes. London: Macmillan and Co., 1927–31. H.A. Lorentz, Collected Papers. 9 volumes. The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1934–39.
For More Information See: de Haas-Lorentz, G.L. H.A. Lorentz. Impressions of His Life and Work. Tr. by Joh. C. Fagginger Auer. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Co., 1957. Dictionary of Scientific Biography. New York: Scribner’s, 1973 (Volume 8), 487–500.
Commentary: Hendrik Lorentz shared the Nobel Prize with Pieter Zeeman “in recognition of the extraordinary service they rendered by their researches into the influence of magnetism upon radiation phenomena.” Beginning with his doctoral work on reflection and refraction of light, Lorentz changed the face of optics and electricity in a long and fruitful career. His first major contribution was a formula relating light velocity to the density and composition of the medium through which it passed. His general theory of the electrical and optical properties of moving bodies followed. Next came the concept of the electron, which paved the way for molecular and quantum theories. Lorentz’s work in electromagnetism and motion led to the Einstein theory of relativity. He also pioneered in the science of hydraulics. (A.S.)