P000831 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-04-22 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000831b.htm person Threlfall Richard FRS GBE AACR2 14 August 1861 10 July 1932 Place of Birth Hollowforth, Lancashire, England Place of Death Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Physicist Chemical engineer Richard Threlfall founded the School of Physics at the University of Sydney, having been appointed Professor of Physics in 1886. The building and equipping of a laboratory was completed in 1888. He continued his research in parallel with teaching, focussing on explosives and explosions, the electrical properties of dielectric materials, and the invention quartz thread torsion balance which enabled highly accuracy measurement of gravity in different locations. Threlfall was active in scientific organisations, holding officer as President of the Royal Society of New South Wales and of Section A of Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science. Having resigned his position in 1899 Threlfall returned to the United Kingdom, becoming scientific advisor to Albright & Wilson Co., Birmingham, England until 1932. During WWI his research related to smokescreens, munitions and chemical warfare. 1881 1882 Education - Studies (PhD?) at the University of Strasbourg, Austria 1884 1884 Education - Bachelor of Art (BA), University of Cambridge, UK 1884 1886 Career position - Demonstrator in the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge 1886 1898 Career position - Professor of Physics, University of Sydney 1888 1888 Career event - Original [founding] member, Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1888 1888 Education - Master of Art (MA), University of Cambridge 1890 1890 Career position - President, Section A (Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics), Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1894 1895 Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales 1895 1899 Career position - Vice-President (jointly), Royal Society of New South Wales 1898 1932 Career position - Scientific Adviser at Albright & Wilson Co.in Birmingham, UK 1899 1932 Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS) 1914 1918 Career position - Board Member of Invention and Research, UK 1917 1917 Award - Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), Britain 1927 1927 Award - Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE), Britain 1929 1929 Award - Gold medal, Society of Chemical Industry Leverrier, Francis Hewitt (Frank) (1863 - 1940) Pollock, James Arthur (1865 - 1922) Bragg, William Henry (1862 - 1942) Royal Society of New South Wales (1866 - )

President 1894 - 1895

 Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science (1888 - 1930)

President, Section A (Astronomy, Mathematics, and Physics) 1890; Original [founding] member 1888 -

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Professor of Physics 1886 - 1898

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Threlfall, Richard (1861-1932)

Trove

 'Threlfall, Richard', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Threlfall, Richard Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Researches on the electric properties of pure substances. No.1. The electrical properties of pure sulphur Threlfall, Richard and Brearley, Joseph Henry Drapier Researches on the electric properties of pure substances. No.1. The electrical properties of pure sulphur London Royal Society of London 1896 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series A 187 57-150 Resource Section: Threlfall, Richard Threlfall, Richard Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Book Section: Sir Richard Threlfall, 1861-1932 Home, R. W. Sir Richard Threlfall, 1861-1932 Oxford Oxford University Press 2004 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Journal Article: Notes on the Theory of Dissociation of Gases Threlfall, R. Notes on the Theory of Dissociation of Gases Sydney Acting Government Printer 1886 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 20 213-217 Journal Article: On an effect produced by the passage of an electric discharge through pure nitrogen Threlfall, R. On an effect produced by the passage of an electric discharge through pure nitrogen London Printed by Taylor and Francis 1886 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 40 329-340 Journal Article: Note on Some Products from the Fruit of Pittosporum undulatum and from the Leaves of the Pepper Tree (Schinus molle) Threlfall, R. Note on Some Products from the Fruit of Pittosporum undulatum and from the Leaves of the Pepper Tree (Schinus molle) Sydney Acting Government Printer 1895 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 29 456-461 Journal Article: Some experiments on the production of ozone Threlfall, R. Some experiments on the production of ozone London Printed by Taylor and Francis 1886 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 40 340-342 Journal Article: On the Purification of Certain Substances Threlfall, R. On the Purification of Certain Substances Melbourne Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1890 Report of the second meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 2 395 Journal Article: Experiments on Some Electrical Properties of Purified Sulphur Threlfall, R.; and Allen, J. Bernard Experiments on Some Electrical Properties of Purified Sulphur Sydney Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1898 Report of the seventh meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 7 245-258 Journal Article: On the Specific heats of the Vapours of Acetic acid and Nitrogen Tetroxide Threlfall, Richard On the Specific heats of the Vapours of Acetic acid and Nitrogen Tetroxide 1887 The Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science 23 223-224 Journal Article: The Electrical Properties of Pure Substances. Part I. The Preparation of Pure Nitrogen and Attempts to Condense It Threlfall, Richard The Electrical Properties of Pure Substances. Part I. The Preparation of Pure Nitrogen and Attempts to Condense It 1893 The Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science 35 1-35 Journal Article: A Contribution to the Study of Oxygen at Low Pressures Threlfall, Richard A Contribution to the Study of Oxygen at Low Pressures Sydney Acting Government Printer 1897 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 31 79-82 Book Section: Threlfall, Sir Richard (1861-1932), physicist and chemical engineer Home, R. W. Threlfall, Sir Richard (1861-1932), physicist and chemical engineer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1990 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 12: 1891 - 1939 Smy-Z John Ritchie 220-221 Book: On Laboratory Arts Threlfall, Richard On Laboratory Arts London Macmillan 1898 Journal Article: On Measurements of the Resistance of Imperfectly Purified Sulphur Threlfall, Richard and Pollock, Arthur (sic, James Arthur) On Measurements of the Resistance of Imperfectly Purified Sulphur 1889 The Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science 28 469-473 Conference Paper: Scientific Instruments for Sydney University in the 19th Century Holland, Julian Scientific Instruments for Sydney University in the 19th Century Canberra Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Recovering Science: Strategies and Models for the Past, Present and Future: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Melbourne, October 1992 Tim Sherratt, Lisa Jooste and Rosanne Clayton 83-86 Journal Article: On the new Physical Laboratory at the University of Sydney Threlfall, Richard On the new Physical Laboratory at the University of Sydney Sydney, NSW Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1889 Report of the first meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1 95-105 Journal Article: On the Clark Cell as a source of small standard currents, and on a galvanometer for the Prince Alfred Hospital. [Abstract] Threlfall, Richard; Pollock, Arthur On the Clark Cell as a source of small standard currents, and on a galvanometer for the Prince Alfred Hospital. [Abstract] Sydney Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1889 Report of the first meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1 110-112 Journal Article: On the measurement of high resistances, and on galvanometers suitable for the purpose. [Abstract] Threlfall, Richard On the measurement of high resistances, and on galvanometers suitable for the purpose. [Abstract] Sydney, NSW Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1889 Report of the first meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1 109-110 Journal Article: Obituary notices of Fellows deceased Obituary notices of Fellows deceased 1923 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, series A 104 728 i-xxviii Journal Article: Sir Richard Threlfall G.B.E., F.R.S. (1861-1932): some personal memories Threlfall, R. E. Sir Richard Threlfall G.B.E., F.R.S. (1861-1932): some personal memories 1961 Notes and records of the Royal Society of London 16 2 234-42 Journal Article: Researches on the electrical properties of pure substances. No 1. The electrical properties of pure sulphur Threlfall, Richard; Brearley, Joseph Henry Drapier and Allen, J. B. Researches on the electrical properties of pure substances. No 1. The electrical properties of pure sulphur London Printed by Taylor and Francis 1894 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 56 32-40 Journal Article: First Physicist of Australia: Richard Threfall at the University of Sydney, 1886-1898 Home, R. W. First Physicist of Australia: Richard Threfall at the University of Sydney, 1886-1898 1986 Historical Records of Australian Science 6 3 333-358 Journal Article: Presidential address Browne, W. R. Presidential address 1934 Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 67 1-95 Journal Article: Sir Richard Threlfall 1861 - 1932 T., J. J.; and H., W. B. Sir Richard Threlfall 1861 - 1932 1932 Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal Society 1 45-53 Edited Book: Wonders never cease: 100 Australian engineering achievements Engineers Australia Wonders never cease: 100 Australian engineering achievements Barton, Australian Capital Territory Institution of Engineers, Australia 2019 Book Section: Leverrier, Francis Hewitt (Frank) (1863 - 1940), barrister Rutledge, Martha Leverrier, Francis Hewitt (Frank) (1863 - 1940), barrister Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1986 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 10: 1891 - 1939 Lat-Ner Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 80-81 Book: The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926 Currie, George; Graham, John The Origins of CSIRO: Science and the Commonwealth Government, 1901-1926 Melbourne CSIRO 1966 Journal Article: Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: successes and lost opportunities Bolton, H. C. Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: successes and lost opportunities Melbourne Australian Science Archives Project 1990 Bright Sparcs Exhibition Papers Book: Dictionary of Australian biography Serle, Percival Dictionary of Australian biography Sydney Angus & Robertson 1949 Richard Threlfall - Records University of Sydney, Archives Richard Threlfall - Records P 28 1885 - 1962 Correspondence including letter books, letters addressed to Threlfall; published scientific papers; related printed material and testimonials 1885-1962 [20 cm, P 28]. 0.2 m Microform