JAMES RICE, who died on April 17 at the age of sixty-two years, was associate-professor of physics and reader in theoretical physics in the University of Liverpool. He was educated at the Royal Academical Institution, and the Queen's College, Belfast (now the Queen's University, Belfast), where he obtained the highest honours (Senior Scholarship and Dunville Studentship). In the Royal University of Ireland his career was equally distinguished (scholar, student and junior fellow), and at the examinations for the B.A. and M.A. degrees and the junior fellowship he was awarded the highest place in the first-class honours list in mathematical science. In 1902 he was appointed senior physics master at the Liverpool Institute, a post which he held until 1914, when he was appointed to a senior lectureship in physics in the University of Liverpool. In 1924 the University of Liverpool conferred on him the title and status of associate-professor, and in 1935 the additional title and status of reader in theoretical physics.