Arthur Stanley Butler

Arthur was born in 1854 and was the second child of George Butler and Josephine Grey. An obituary to him was published in "Nature" in April 1923. It read as follows: 'Prof. Butler was born on May 17, 1854; educated at Cheltenham and at Exeter College, Oxford (of which his father-a Hertford scholar in his day-had been fellow), where he obtained first class in Moderations (mathematics) and first-class honours in the Final School. After further study at Oxford, at Cambridge in the mechanical workshop under Prof. James Stuart, and at Liverpool, he was appointed to the chair at St. Andrews in 1880. Prof. Butler's experience, especially at Cambridge, made him realise how desirable it is that students of natural philosophy should carry out some experimental work in addition to attending lectures and class demonstrations. But like his predecessor, Prof. Swan, he had the difficulties of want of accommodation and suitable apparatus. In the first year at St. Andrews a special grant provided him with some necessary apparatus, and in a few years he succeeded in obtaining a good practical laboratory well furnished and then all his students were required to do some practical work. As a lecturer Prof. Butler was highly successful.