Some reminiscences of Ernest Marsden’s days with Rutherford at Manchester

Abstract

The name of Marsden is inseparably connected with that of Rutherford, as symbolized, perhaps, by the fact that not only were they both given one Christian name only, which is unusual, but the name was in both cases the same, Ernest, an outstanding example of the Importance of being Ernest. Further, the two men are closely associated with New Zealand, a country dear to both their hearts. Rutherford, of course, was born there and loved his native land, visiting which in 1914 gave him the greatest pleasure: Marsden went thither at the beginning of the next year, 1915, to take up the post at Victoria College where he was to win such distinction and render such great services to education. I propose to set down here something of Marsden's research work in his Manchester days, where, as John Harling Fellow, the unworthy successor of Moseley, I spent the academic year 1913-1914 and so saw much of Marsden. I was looking forward to working for a few years with the great Rutherford, but the outbreak of war in 1914 put an end to that.