George Carse

Dr George Alexander Carse FRSE RSSA (1880 – 1950) was a leading Scottish physicist and educationalist. In 1925 he was the first Mitchell Lecturer.

Life

He was born in Edinburgh on 20 June 1880, the first child of George Carse, a decorator from Duns, and his wife Jane. They lived at 120 Lauriston Place, south-west of the city centre. In 1891 he went to George Heriot’s School and was the school dux for 1898. He then won a place at Edinburgh University studying mathematics under Prof George Chrystal and physics under the elderly Prof P G Tait. He graduated in 1903 and received a doctorate in 1908, having attended Emmanuel College, Cambridge from 1904 to 1907 (working at the Cavendish Laboratory).

In November 1904 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his main proposer being Prof George Chrystal.

During the First World War he served in the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

He spent the bulk of his working life lecturing in physics at Edinburgh University, retiring in 1948. He was an office bearer in several non-academic roles in the university, mainly concerning university finances.

He served as Vice President to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts both 1935/36 and 1946/47.

He died in Edinburgh on 20 August 1950. His RSE obituary was written by Dr Arthur Melville Clark.

Other Positions Held

• Convenor of Foundationers Committee, Edinburgh University
• Governor, Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture
• Governor, Heriot-Watt College

Publications

• Notes on Practical Physics for Junior Students (1926)