J. Willard Gibbs

J. Willard Gibbs (1839-1903), American mathematical physicist, born in New Haven, Connecticut, and educated at Yale University and in Paris, Berlin, and Heidelberg. He was professor of mathematical physics at Yale from 1871 until his death. Between 1876 and 1878 Gibbs wrote a series of papers collectively entitled On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances, considered one of the greatest achievements in physical science in the 19th century and the foundation of the science of physical chemistry. In these papers Gibbs applied thermodynamics to the interpretation of physicochemical phenomena and showed the explanation and interrelationship of what had been known only as isolated, inexplicable facts. The phase rule is among the theorems discussed. Gibbs's papers on thermodynamics were published in Transactions of the Connecticut Academy, but because of their mathematical complexity and their appearance in an obscure journal, scientists in the U.S. did not recognize their value. On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances was translated into German in 1891 and into French in 1899; and its theorems were developed and used in Europe some years before American chemists realized their importance. Gibbs was awarded the Copley medal of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge in 1901.

Gibbs also did outstanding work in statistical mechanics, in vector analysis, and in the electromagnetic theory of light. His Scientific Papers (1906) and Collected Works (1928) were assembled and published posthumously.