Charles Glover Barkla

British physicist

Born: June 7, 1877 · Died: October 23, 1944

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Who was Charles Glover Barkla?

Charles Glover Barkla (7 June 1877 – 23 October 1944) was a British physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1917 for his discovery of characteristic X-rays. Charles Glover Barkla was born in Widnes, Lancashire, England, the son of John Martin Barkla, originally from Wendron, Cornwall, a secretary for the Atlas Chemical Company, and Sarah Glover. Barkla studied at the Liverpool Institute, and then proceeded to University College Liverpool (now the University of Liverpool) with a County Council Scholarship and a Bibby Scholarship. In 1899, Barkla was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, with an 1851 Research Fellowship to study under J. J. Thomson in the Cavendish Laboratory. He initially studied mathematics, but later specialised in physics under Oliver Lodge. During the absence of Lodge due to ill health, Barkla replaced him in lectures.

Plaque to C. G. Barkla, Hermitage of Braid

Historical significance

In 1898, he graduated with First Class Honours in Physics, and received his master's degree the following year. During his first two years at Cambridge, under the direction of Thomson, he studied the velocity of electromagnetic waves along wires of different widths and materials.

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“Charles Glover Barkla.” thisDay, thisday.info/people/charles-barkla/. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

APA

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