Johannes Bosscha Jr. (1831-1911) and the development of the field of physics in the Netherlands in the second half of the 19th century

Abstract

The aim of this research is to shed more light on the development of Dutch physics throughout the second half of the 19th century. As a representative of this generation of physicists I have investigated Johannes Bosscha Jr. (1831–1911). At the end of the 19th century Dutch natural science flourished again, what by many historians is called the ‘second golden age’, after the first in the 17th century. Moreover, this period was formative for the field of physics as an emancipated discipline because of two aspects. Firstly, the law of conservation of energy was introduced in the 50s as an umbrella principle governing the field of physics. Secondly, quantitative precision measurements became the standard method in the field of physics. In this study it is shown that Bosscha Jr. played a pivotal role in these developments. Bosscha, in his research, provided experimental proof of phenomena governed by energy principles, always with a strong emphasis on quantitative precision. Bosscha improved the general level of education in the natural sciences in the Netherlands by his role as first inspector of the newly founded HBS schools and from this position, he also helped the careers of young physicists by installing them as HBS teachers, by recommending them for academic positions or, indirectly, by his successful textbook on physics. Lastly, Bosscha’s influence can be held responsible for at least 4 ‘academic’ physical laboratories in the Netherlands: Delft, Utrecht, Leiden and Groningen and their emphasis on precision physics.