LORÁND EÖTVÖS (1848 - 1919)

Loránd Eötvös was born in Buda, and became a physicist. During his university years in Pest his master was Ányos Jedlik, and studied under Kirchhoff, Bunsen and Helmholz in Heidelberg. He also took his Ph. D. degree there in 1870. His theoretical work was significant. He was deeply engaged in studying capillary action and gravity. He created the so-called Eötvös Rule, which states that there is a relation between the surface tension of pure liquids and temperature changes. His law regarding changes in weights of bodies in motion has been called the Eötvös-effect. He established the identity of gravitational and inert masses, on which Einstein based his theory of relativity. In 1888 he devised the Eötvös-pendulum, which he did not patent due to his love of science. From 1873 he was a member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences; subsequently he was the president of the Academy between 1889 and 1905. From 1871 he lectured at the Budapest University of Sciences, and later he became the rector of the University. From 1878 he led the Institute of Experimental Physics.

In 1894 and 1895 he filled a governmental post as Minister of Religion and Education. In 1895 he established the Eötvös College in memory of his father.

Representatives of the international scientific world regard him even today as the master of classical physics. In 1909 he received the Benecke prize in Göttinga for his gravity measurements. Two years later the Royal Prussian Academy of Science, the Jagello University of Krakow and the Norwegian Royal University conferred the title of honorary doctor upon him.