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Wilhelm Röntgen

German physicist (1845-1923) · Germany · Scientists · Died at 77

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He found a new kind of light that could see through flesh to bone - and refused to patent it, believing the world should have it free.

ScientistsScientistPhysicsGermanyEurope19th Century

A life in dates

1923Died10 February 19231918Helmholtz MedalAward1909Honorary CitizenshipAward1901Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and ArtAwardHonorary Member of the Physics Association (Frankfurt Am Main, Germany)AwardNobel Prize in PhysicsAward1900Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to ScienceAward1898Elliott Cresson MedalAward1896“I was working with a Crookes tube covered by a shield of black cardboard. A piece of barium platino-cyanide paper lay on the bench there.”In their wordsApril 1896Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from

“Having discovered the existence of a new kind of rays, I of course began to investigate what they would do.”In their wordsApril 1896Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from

“I am not a prophet, and I am opposed to prophesying. I am pursuing my investigations, and as fast as my results are verified I shall make them public.”In their wordsApril 1896Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from

“We shall see what we shall see. We have the start now; the developments will follow in time.”In their wordsApril 1896Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from

Matteucci MedalAwardRumford MedalAward1845Born27 March 1845

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1888-1900), 88374 pWilhelm Conrad Röntgen (1888-1900), 88374 p1896bibliotecapopolarepietrocola43raggirontgen1896bibliotecapopolarepietrocola43raggirontgenWilhelm Conrad Röntgen-croppedWilhelm Conrad Röntgen-croppedWilhelm Conrad RöntgenWilhelm Conrad RöntgenWilhelmRöntgen (cropped)WilhelmRöntgen (cropped)WilhelmRöntgenWilhelmRöntgenAmerican X-ray journal (1897) (14753670431)American X-ray journal (1897) (14753670431)American X-ray journal (1897) (14756931925)American X-ray journal (1897) (14756931925)

In their own words 4

,
Wilhelm Röntgen
,
4 statements, newest first

  1. I was working with a Crookes tube covered by a shield of black cardboard. A piece of barium platino-cyanide paper lay on the bench there.

    Apr 1896, Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from, Own words

  2. Having discovered the existence of a new kind of rays, I of course began to investigate what they would do.

    Apr 1896, Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from, Own words

  3. I am not a prophet, and I am opposed to prophesying. I am pursuing my investigations, and as fast as my results are verified I shall make them public.

    Apr 1896, Quotes of Röntgen from "The New Marvel in Photography", by H. J .W. Dam, in McClure's magazine, Vol. 6, No. 5 (April 1896), p. 416, from, Own words

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Awards

Helmholtz Medal1918
Honorary Citizenship, Weilheim in Oberbayern1909
Nobel Prize in Physics1901
Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art1901
Honorary Member of the Physics Association (Frankfurt Am Main, Germany)1901
Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to Science1900
Elliott Cresson Medal1898
Rumford Medal1896
Matteucci Medal1896
Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts order
2nd Class Order of the Crown with the Star
Iron Cross on white ribbon
Luitpold Medal of Bavaria
Order of Saint Michael
Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Merit Order of the Bavarian Crown

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Wilhelm Röntgen

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About this person

Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen was a German experimental physicist working in the dim hours of November 1895 when he noticed a strange glow from a covered screen across his lab. He'd stumbled on electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength no one had isolated before: X-rays, capable of passing through soft tissue and exposing the skeleton beneath. The discovery tore through medicine and science. In 1901 he became the first person ever to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics, cited for "the extraordinary services he has rendered by the discovery of the remarkable rays subsequently named after him." He died in 1923, his name lodged in periodic tables and radiology departments, the element roentgenium carrying it forward.

Country
Germany
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1845 to 1923 · aged 77

In common with Wilhelm

Ernest RutherfordBoth received Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to ScienceErwin SchrödingerBoth received Matteucci MedalIrène Joliot-CurieBoth received Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to ScienceEnrico FermiBoth received Matteucci MedalHenri PoincaréBoth received Matteucci MedalHenri BecquerelBoth received Barnard Medal for Meritorious Service to Science

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