John William Strutt (1842-1919), 3rd Baron Rayleigh, was born at Maldon, Essex, on 12 November 1842. He was educated privately and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was a Fellow, 1866-1871. He succeeded his father as baron in 1873. Rayleigh was Cavendish Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge, 1879-1884. He retired to Terling Place, Essex, in 1885, but continued to work in his private laboratory. He carried out research in physics, chemistry and mathematics, and published many scientific papers. In 1894 he was responsible, with William Ramsay, for the discovery of argon. He was Secretary of the Royal Society, 1885-1896, and President, 1905. He died at Witham, Essex, on 30 June 1919.
From the guide to the John Strutt, 3rd Lord Rayleigh: Sound detection papers, 1915-1916, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)
