demy in
January, 1884, and is also a Member of the Royal Scottish Water Colour
Society.

[Illustration: AGE 24.

_From a Photo. by Ovinius-Davis, Glasgow._]

[Illustration: AGE 32.

_From a Photo. by Fradelle & Marshall, London._]

[Illustration: PRESENT DAY.

_From a Photograph._]

[Illustration: AGE 20.

_From a Drawing by Carl Hartmann._]

SIR FREDERICK AUGUSTUS ABEL, BART., K.C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S.

BORN 1827.

[Illustration: AGE 28.

_From a Photo. by Maull & Co., London._]

Sir Fredk. A. Abel, Bart., who has lately been prominent before the
public in connection with the recent opening of the Imperial Institute,
of which he has been Organizing Secretary from 1887, was born in London
in 1827, and is known principally in connection with chemistry and
explosives. His published works are: "The Modern History of Gunpowder,"
1866; "Gun Cotton," 1866; "On Explosive Agents," 1872, "Researches in
Explosives," 1875; and "Electricity Applied to Explosive Purposes,"
1884. He is also joint-author with Colonel Bloxam of a "Handbook of
Chemistry." Sir Frederick Abel has been President of the Institute of
Chemistry, the Society of Chemical Industry, and the Society of
Telegraph Engineers and Electricians. He was appointed Associate Member
of the Ordnance Committee in 1867; and is Chemist to the War Department
and likewise Chemical Referee to the Government. In 1883 he was one of
the Royal Commissioners on Accidents in Mines, and was President of the
British Association at the Leeds meeting, 1890. He was created C.B. in
1877, Hon. D.C.L., Oxford, in 1883, knighted in the same year, and
raised to the rank of Baronet at the opening of the Imperial Institute.

[Illustration: AGE 50.

_From a Photograph._]

[Illustration: AGE 65.

_From a Photo. by Barraud, London._]

LORD KELVIN.

BORN 1824.

[Illustration: AGE 28.

_From a Photograph._]

William Thomson, Lord Kelvin, was born at Belfast on the 26th of June,
1824. His father was a distinguished mathematician, and was Professor of
Mathematics, first in Belfast, and afterwards in Glasgow University. At
a very early age, Lord Kelvin showed extraordinary mathematical ability;
and he passed with great distinction, first through the University of
Glasgow, and then through Cambridge, where he gained the Second
Wranglership and the first Smith's Prize. He became Professor of Natural
Philosophy in the University of Glasgow in 1846, at the age of
twenty-two; a