As his greatest ideas often appeared in the form of useful suggestions contained within letters sent to other scientists rather than through his own publications, George Francis FitzGerald remains one of the great under-appreciated physicists in the history of science.

During 2008, the FitzGerald Letters were digitised and made available through the RDS Library online catalogue.

FitzGerald’s best known contribution is the FitzGerald-Lorentz contraction, which later became an essential part of Einstein’s theory of Special Relativity. FitzGerald, however, considered this only a minor piece of work. Recent research has shown the crucial role that FitzGerald played in the development of Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism and Joseph Larmor’s electron theory of matter.

The FitzGerald Letters are however, not only essential for understanding the development of electromagnetic theory and other areas of physical science; but also open a window on science and technology in fin-de-siècle Dublin. FitzGerald’s life saw the introduction of electricity to Trinity College Dublin, the first automobiles to arrive in Ireland, the first X-ray photographs, early experiments on flight and wireless telegraphy (in which he participated), the rise of technical education, the professionalization of physics and the attempt to reconcile the new sciences with religion.

As Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin and head of the Engineering School, commissioner for education in Ireland and an examiner for the University of London, FitzGerald was active in all of these areas. His letters are therefore undoubtedly of great value to scientists and historians with a wide variety of interests.

The RDS is grateful to the Heritage Council who generously provided funding to enable the FitzGerald Letters to be properly stored in order to minimize damage from handling.

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