オリヴァー・ヘヴィサイド_
（Oliver Heaviside）【独学で電磁気学を発展させた男】

（Oliver Heaviside, 1850年5月18日- 1925年2月3日）

オリヴァー・ヘヴィサイド（1850–1925）は、
大学にも研究機関にも属さず独学で活躍した
イギリスの電気技師・物理学者です。
後に名誉博士号を受けたのでゲッチンゲン大学の写真
を使っています。イングランドで研究をした学者です。

難聴を抱えながら、インピーダンスや演算子法の導入、
マクスウェル方程式の再構成など、電気通信と物理数学に
進展をもたらしました。彼は生涯の大半で、科学の権威と
戦い続けたのです。その中で電気通信、数学、科学の
あり方を変えた人物でした。

ヘヴィサイドは、電磁気論において次のような造語を行った^[45]。

• コンダクタンス：アドミタンスの実数部、抵抗の逆数（1885年9月）
• 透磁率(permeability)（1885年9月）
• エラスタンス：パーミタンスの逆数、キャパシタンスの逆数（1886年）
• インダクタンス（1886年2月）
• インピーダンス（1886年7月）
• パーミタンス：現在のキャパシタンス（1887年6月）
• 誘電率(permittivity)（1887年6月）
• アドミタンス：インピーダンスの逆数（1887年12月）
• リラクタンス（1888年5月）
• エレクトレット：永久磁石の電気的類似体。強誘電体など準永久的な電気分極を示す物質

ヘヴィサイドは、サセプタンスとリアクタンスを造語した人物
として誤って扱われることがある。前者は
チャールズ・プロテウス・スタインメッツの造語
によるものであり、後者はM. ホスピタリエによるものである。

ヘヴィサイドを考えてみたら、きっとガッツと粘り強さ
に長けた人物だったのだろうと思えます。
出来ることなら彼と語ってみたい。イギリスには
そうした人物が昔から居るのでしょう。ファラデー然り。
ヘビサイトはロンドンのカムデン・タウン、
キングス・ストリート55番地（現在のプレンダー・ストリート）
に生まれました。

オリヴァー・ヘヴィサイドは製図技師で木版画家の父トーマスと母レイチェルのもと、3人兄弟の末っ子として生まれた。幼少期に猩紅熱で聴覚障害を負い、13歳で一家はカムデンに移住、グラマースクールに進学。成績優秀だったが、16歳で退学し、その後は独学で学び続けた。

叔父チャールズ・ホイートストン卿（電信の共同発明者）は彼の教育に関心を持ち、1867年に甥を電信会社に送り出した。彼はその後、グレート・ノーザン・テレグラフ社でケーブル敷設に従事し、電気技師としての経験を積んだ。

22歳までに科学雑誌に論文を発表し、ウィリアム・トムソンやマクスウェルらから注目を集めた。また、英国電気工学会への入会を拒否されるも、トムソンの推薦により入会が認められた。1873年、彼はマクスウェルの『電気磁気論』と出会い、その後の研究に大きな影響を受けることとなる。

老年になってヘヴィサイドはこう回想した：

私が若かった頃、マクスウェルの偉大な論文を
初めて見たときのことを覚えている...。
私はこの本が偉大で、より偉大で、最も偉大
(it was great, greater, and greatest)で、その力には
計り知れない可能性があることを知った...。
私はこの本をマスターしようと決心し、
作業に取り掛かった。私はとても無知だった。
数学的解析の知識はまったくなく
（学校の代数学と三角法しか習っておらず、
ほとんど忘れていた）、そのため私の作業は
私のためだけにあるようなものだった。

可能な限り理解できるようになるまで、
数年かかった。その後、私はマクスウェルの論文を
脇に置き、自分の道を歩んだ。そして、
私はもっと早く前進した......。
私が私なりのマクスウェルの解釈に従って
福音を宣べ伝えていることは
ご理解いただけるだろう
【Sarkar, T. K.; Mailloux, Robert; 
Oliner, Arthur A.;Salazar-Palma, M.; 
Sengupta, Dipak L. (30 January 2006).】

ヘヴィサイドの中年期：自宅研究と技術革新

1874年に電信技師の仕事を辞め実家へ戻った
ヘヴィサイドは、被雇用者としての唯一の期間
を経て自宅で研究に没頭。彼は伝送線路理論や
表皮効果の解明、マクスウェル方程式の
ベクトル解析への再定式化、そして微分演算子法の開発
などで電気通信技術に革新をもたらした。

自宅での研究生活と伝送線路理論

1874年以降、実家で独学を続けたヘヴィサイドは、電信線路における「インダクタンス」が減衰や歪みを抑え、すべての周波数の電流伝搬速度を均一化することを数学的に示しました。この成果は、電信回線の無歪み伝送に大きく寄与しました。

業界紙への執筆と理論の基礎形成

1882年から1902年にかけ、業界紙『The Electrician』に
定期的に記事を寄稿し、わずかな報酬ながらも
慎ましい生活を送りつつ、後の『電磁気理論』や
『電気論文』の基礎となる研究成果を積み上げました。

発明と数理手法の革新

1880年、表皮効果の研究と同軸ケーブルの特許取得
に始まり、1884年にはマクスウェル方程式を20の方程式から
4つの微分方程式に再定式化。さらに、微分演算子を用いた
演算子法を確立し、微分方程式の直接解法を提案しました。

後に、厳密さに欠けるとして同提案は
大きな論争を引き起こした。ヘヴィサイドは
この問題について有名な言葉を残しています。

Mathematics is an experimental science, 
and definitions do not come first, but
 later on. They make themselves, when 
the nature of the subject has developed itself.

（数学は実験科学であり、定義は最初に来るのではなく、
後から来るのである。定義というものは、
対象の本質そのものが明らかになったときに、
自ずと生まれるものなのである。）

Shall I refuse my dinner because I do not fully
 understand the process of digestion?

（消化のプロセスを十分に理解していない
からといって、夕食を断ろうか？）

ヘヴィサイドの革新的研究とその試練

オリヴァー・ヘヴィサイドは、兄アーサーと共に取り組んだ
「電話のブリッジシステム」の論文で、電信線に
コイルを加える提案を行いましたが、上司である
ウィリアム・ヘンリー・プリースにより阻止され、
激しい対立を生みました。

その後、彼の研究は
長らく評価されず、AT&Tの科学者たちによって
検証・発展され、特許申請の対象とされるも、
彼自身は自身の業績が正当に認められるまで
金銭的な補償を拒否しました。この挫折を契機に、
ヘヴィサイドは電磁放射に関する研究へと舵を切り、
移動する電荷の周囲で起こる現象の解明や、
ローレンツ力の正しい導出、さらに
電磁質量の概念の確立に取り組みました。

対立と評価：電話ブリッジシステムの試み

1887年、ヘヴィサイドは兄アーサーと共に
「電話のブリッジシステム」について論文を執筆しましたが、
その一部提案、すなわち電話線と電信線にコイルを
追加して自己インダクタンスを増大させる案は、
当時の伝送理論において自己インダクタンスを
伝送の大敵とみなしていたウィリアム・ヘンリー・プリース
によって阻止されました。ヘヴィサイドは、プリースが
自身の業績を守るために研究を抑圧していると考え、
両者の間には長い敵対関係が生じました。

電磁放射と運動量変化の先駆的研究

その後、ヘヴィサイドは1888年と1889年の論文で、
移動する電荷の周囲で生じる電場と磁場の変形、
さらに密度の高い媒質に入った際の影響を計算し、
現代でいうチェレンコフ放射やローレンツ力の
磁気成分の正しい導出に成功しました。
これらの研究は、電磁気学の新たな展開に大きな影響を与え、
後の物理学の進歩に寄与しました。

電磁質量と数理手法の革新

1880年代後半から1890年代前半にかけ、ヘヴィサイドは
電磁質量の概念に取り組み、物質質量として
電磁的効果を捉える理論を提案しました。
彼の数理手法は、微分演算子を用いた直接解法
（後のラプラス変換法の先駆け）としても知られ、
後にヴィルヘルム・ヴィーンによって低速領域で
検証されるなど、現代の理論物理学に多大な影響を与えました。

ヘヴィサイドの主要成果まとめ

• 電話ブリッジシステムの提案と対立

  • 電信線にコイル追加の提案が上司によって阻止

  • プリースとの激しい敵対関係が形成

• 電磁放射の先駆的研究

  • 移動電荷周囲の電場・磁場変形を理論的に解明

  • チェレンコフ放射、ローレンツ力の正しい導出に寄与

• 電磁質量の概念と数理手法の革新

  • 電磁質量を物質質量として取り扱う理論を提案

  • 微分演算子を用いた解法の確立で
    後の理論物理学に影響を与えた

1891年、英国王立協会はヘヴィサイドの電磁気現象の
数学的記述への貢献を認め、王立協会フェローに任命しました。
翌年には同協会のPhilosophical Transactionsの
50ページ以上を彼のベクトル手法と電磁気論に割きました。

1896年春、フィッツジェラルドとジョン・ペリーは、
以前に王立協会からの援助申し出を断っていた
ヘヴィサイドを説得し、年間120ポンドの
下賜年金を受け取ることを承諾させました。

伝えられるところによると、優秀な科学者たちが
彼の隠れ家を脅かし、
年金受給を強制させたという逸話があります。1896年に父の死去を機に
初めて一人暮らしとなり、1897年にペイントンから
ニュートン・アボットへ移住しました。
1902年には、後に「ケネリー・ヘヴィサイド層」
と呼ばれる電離層の存在を提唱し、
その後の電波伝播理論に大きな影響を与えたのです。

孤独と移住の始まり

以下年代順に項目にまとめご説明致します。

• 1896年、父の死後、初めて一人暮らしとなる。
• 1897年、ペイントンからニュートン・アボットへ移住し、
  新たな生活を開始。

科学的提案と栄誉

• 1902年、電離層の存在（ケネリー・ヘヴィサイド層）を提唱し、
  電波が地球の曲率に沿って伝達されることを示唆。
• 1905年、ゲッティンゲン大学から名誉博士号を授与。
• 1912年、ノーベル物理学賞の最終候補に7回ノミネート（1904～1914）。
• 1922年、創設されたファラデー・メダルの初受賞者となる。

最期の悲劇と遺産の保存

• 1908年、ニュートン・アボットからトーキーへ移住。
• 1924年、屋根修理中に11フィートの梯子から落下し
  重傷を負い、1925年2月3日に亡くなる。
• 彼はペイントン墓地に父母とともに埋葬され、
  2005年に墓石が匿名の篤志家により修復された。

ヘヴィサイドの墓。【出典：Wikipedia】

英国工学技術学会が称えるヘヴィサイドの偉業

電磁気学や通信理論の発展に大きく貢献したオリヴァー・ヘヴィサイドは、その生前・没後にわたり英国の工学界から高く評価されてきました。彼の功績は、英国工学技術学会（IET）による顕彰や記念アーカイブの保存に見ることができます。この章では、彼の業績がいかに後世に評価され、学術的にも記録され続けているかを詳しく見ていきます。

IETアーカイブセンターに残るヘヴィサイドの軌跡

ロンドンにあるIET（The Institution of Engineering and Technology）アーカイブセンターは、ヘヴィサイドに関する豊富な一次資料を所蔵しています。

具体的には、数式ノート、草稿、通信文、そして彼の主著『電磁気理論（Electromagnetic Theory）』の原稿などが保管されており、研究者はこれを通じて彼の思考の軌跡を辿ることが可能です。特に、ベル電話研究所のオリヴァー・E・バックリーによる1950年の追悼音声もデジタル化されており、IETのバイオグラフィーアーカイブから視聴できます。

名誉会員とファラデー・メダル授与による生前の評価

1908年、当時の電気技術者協会（IEE、後のIET）は、ヘヴィサイドに名誉会員資格を授与しました。これは同会が選定する最も名誉ある称号のひとつであり、彼の理論的業績がいかに高く評価されていたかを物語っています。さらに、1922年には、IEE創設のファラデー・メダル第1回受賞者として選ばれました。この賞は、電気・電子工学における最高の栄誉のひとつとされています。

ヘヴィサイド・プレミアム賞による永続的な記念

1950年、IETはヘヴィサイドの功績を恒久的に称えるため、「ヘヴィサイド・プレミアム賞（The Heaviside Premium）」を創設しました。

この賞は、毎年もっとも優れた数学論文に対して授与されるもので、彼の理論的影響が現在も研究者にインスピレーションを与えている証です。賞金額は当初10ポンドとされていましたが、その意義は金額を超えて、ヘヴィサイドという存在を後世に伝える役割を担っています。

革新をもたらしたヘヴィサイドの発明と理論

電磁気理論、微分方程式、信号伝送、関数解析など、多くの分野においてオリヴァー・ヘヴィサイドは革新的なアイデアを提唱し、理論と実用の橋渡しを行いました。本章では、彼が生み出した代表的な発明・理論的業績をピックアップし、現代にも通じるその影響力を探ります。

マクスウェル方程式の再定式化とベクトル解析の普及

マクスウェルの元の電磁気方程式は20個のスカラー式で構成され、非常に複雑でした。ヘヴィサイドはベクトル解析の演算子「回転（curl）」や「発散（divergence）」を導入し、これを4つのベクトル方程式に再構成しました。

これにより、電磁気学の理解と教育は格段に効率化され、現代の「マクスウェル方程式」の原型となっています。物理学と工学の間の橋渡しとなったこの業績は、彼の最大の功績のひとつといえるでしょう。

ヘヴィサイド階段関数・デルタ関数の導入

ヘヴィサイド階段関数は、電気回路のオン/オフ切り替えを数学的に表現するために考案されたもので、制御工学や信号処理に欠かせないツールです。

さらに彼は、現在「ディラックのデルタ関数」として知られる単位インパルス関数を、応用的に使用した最初の人物でもあります。ディラックが物理的解釈を与える以前から、ヘヴィサイドは工学的な直感によってこの関数を扱っていたのです。

信号伝送理論と通信工学への応用

ヘヴィサイドは、電信ケーブルを通じて信号をより速く・正確に伝えるための「伝送線路理論」を構築しました。これは、後に「電信者の方程式（telegrapher’s equations）」と呼ばれ、通信工学の基礎理論として今なお使われています。

彼の理論によって、当時は1文字の伝送に10分かかっていた大西洋横断電信ケーブルの速度が、1分間に1文字にまで向上しました。また、彼はインダクタンス（コイル）をケーブルに直列に挿入することで信号損失を軽減できることも示し、実用的改善をもたらしました。

〆

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AIでの考察（参考）

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[2025年4月時点での対応英訳]

Oliver Heaviside
(May 18, 1850 – February 3, 1925)

Oliver Heaviside (1850–1925) was a British electrical engineer and physicist who made significant contributions through self-study, without being affiliated with any university or research institution. Although he was later awarded an honorary doctorate, a photograph from the University of Göttingen is often used in association with him. He conducted his research in England.

Despite suffering from hearing loss, Heaviside advanced the fields of electrical communication and mathematical physics by introducing concepts such as impedance and the operational calculus, and by reformulating Maxwell’s equations. Throughout most of his life, he stood in opposition to the scientific establishment, yet he transformed the fields of electrical communication, mathematics, and science itself.

Heaviside’s Achievements and Inventions

Reformulation of Maxwell’s Equations and the Evolution of Vector Analysis

Heaviside’s most renowned achievement was his reformulation of James Clerk Maxwell’s complex system of equations in electromagnetism into a modern, simplified form. The original framework consisted of 20 variables and 20 equations, forming a highly intricate structure. Heaviside utilized vector analysis—specifically, operations such as curl and divergence—to reduce these to just four equations.

This reformulation significantly enhanced compatibility with the later developments in quantum physics. Additionally, he found the negative squares in quaternions intuitively uncomfortable, which led him to influence the development of hyperbolic quaternions as an alternative.

Prediction of Gravitational Waves and Pioneering Use of Step Functions

Based on his knowledge of electromagnetism, Heaviside discussed the possibility that gravity, like light, could propagate as waves—a visionary insight more than 20 years before Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
He also devised Heaviside’s step function, used to describe the behavior of current when a switch is activated in an electrical circuit. Furthermore, he was the first physicist to introduce what is now known as the Dirac delta function (unit impulse function) into practical use in physics.

Revolutionary Contributions to Communication Technology and Mathematical Methods

Heaviside independently developed the operational calculus method to solve differential equations, which was later formalized mathematically in connection with the Laplace transform and Bromwich integrals.
He developed the transmission line theory to suppress signal degradation in telegraph lines. Most notably, for the transatlantic cable, his innovations improved communication efficiency more than tenfold—from one character every 10 minutes to one per minute.

This breakthrough was based on the idea of connecting coils (inductors) in series with the line.
Heaviside also independently discovered the Poynting vector, which describes the flow of electromagnetic energy.

Summary of Heaviside’s Major Contributions

✅ Reformulated Maxwell’s equations and introduced vector analysis
✅ Predicted the existence of gravitational waves (prior to Einstein)
✅ Practical application of step functions and delta functions
✅ Developed operational calculus to solve differential equations
✅ Greatly improved communication efficiency via transmission line theory
✅ Independently derived the Poynting vector (electromagnetic energy flow)
✅ Predicted the existence of the Kennelly–Heaviside layer (ionosphere)

Terminology Introduced by Heaviside in Electromagnetism

Heaviside coined several terms in electromagnetism, including the following:

• Conductance: The real part of admittance, inverse of resistance (September 1885)

• Permeability (1885)

• Elastance: Inverse of permittance, or inverse of capacitance (1886)

• Inductance (February 1886)

• Impedance (July 1886)

• Permittance: Now known as capacitance (June 1887)

• Permittivity (June 1887)

• Admittance: Inverse of impedance (December 1887)

• Reluctance (May 1888)

• Electret: Electrical analog of a permanent magnet; materials like ferroelectrics that exhibit quasi-permanent electric polarization

It is sometimes mistakenly stated that Heaviside coined the terms susceptance and reactance, but in fact, susceptance was coined by Charles Proteus Steinmetz, and reactance by M. Hospitalier.

Oliver Heaviside’s Early Life

When thinking about Heaviside, one might imagine a man full of grit and perseverance. If possible, I’d love to have a conversation with him. Perhaps England has long been a land of such individuals—Michael Faraday comes to mind. Heaviside was born at 55 King’s Street (now Prender Street) in Camden Town, London.

Oliver Heaviside was the youngest of three brothers, born to Thomas, a draftsman and wood engraver, and his wife Rachel. In his early childhood, he contracted scarlet fever, which left him partially deaf. At age 13, his family moved to Camden, where he entered a grammar school. Though he performed well academically, he left school at 16 and continued his studies through self-education.

His uncle, Sir Charles Wheatstone—a co-inventor of the telegraph—took an interest in Oliver’s education and, in 1867, arranged for him to work at a telegraph company. There, Heaviside gained practical experience as an electrical engineer, working on cable installations at the Great Northern Telegraph Company.

By the age of 22, he had already published papers in scientific journals, attracting the attention of prominent figures like William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) and James Clerk Maxwell. Although he was initially rejected by the Institution of Electrical Engineers, he was later admitted through Thomson’s recommendation. In 1873, Heaviside encountered Maxwell’s Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism, a discovery that would profoundly influence his future research.

In his old age, Heaviside reflected:

“I remember when I was young and first came across Maxwell’s great paper…
I realized that this book was great, greater, and greatest, and that its power had unimaginable potential…
I resolved to master it and began my work. I was very ignorant.
I had no knowledge of mathematical analysis (I had only learned school algebra and trigonometry, and had mostly forgotten them),
so my work was essentially for myself alone.
It took me years to understand it as far as possible.
Afterward, I put Maxwell’s paper aside and went my own way.
And then, I progressed more quickly…
You may understand that I have been preaching the gospel according to my own interpretation of Maxwell.”
(Sarkar, T. K.; Mailloux, Robert; Oliner, Arthur A.; Salazar-Palma, M.; Sengupta, Dipak L. – 30 January 2006)

Heaviside’s Middle Years: Home-Based Research and Technical Innovations

In 1874, Heaviside resigned from his position as a telegraph engineer and returned to live with his family. This marked the end of his only period of formal employment, after which he immersed himself in home-based research.

He brought groundbreaking innovations to telecommunications technology through developments such as transmission line theory, analysis of the skin effect, the reformulation of Maxwell’s equations using vector analysis, and the creation of his operator method for solving differential equations.

Home Research and Transmission Line Theory

From 1874 onward, while continuing to study independently at home, Heaviside mathematically demonstrated that inductance in telegraph lines reduced attenuation and distortion, and equalized current propagation speeds across all frequencies. This work significantly contributed to distortionless signal transmission over telegraph lines.

Contributions to Industry Journals and Theoretical Foundations

Between 1882 and 1902, Heaviside regularly contributed articles to the trade journal The Electrician. Despite earning only modest compensation, he lived a frugal life and steadily built the foundation for what would later become his major works: Electromagnetic Theory and Electrical Papers.

Innovations in Invention and Mathematical Methods

In 1880, he began studying the skin effect and obtained a patent for coaxial cables. By 1884, he had reformulated Maxwell’s original 20 equations into four differential equations. He also established the operator method using differential operators, proposing a direct solution technique for differential equations.

Though his approach initially lacked mathematical rigor and sparked considerable controversy, Heaviside famously commented on this issue:

“Mathematics is an experimental science,
and definitions do not come first, but later on.
They make themselves, when the nature of the subject has developed itself.”

And he added:

“Shall I refuse my dinner because I do not fully understand the process of digestion?”

Conflict and Recognition: The Telephone Bridge System Attempt

In 1887, Oliver Heaviside, along with his brother Arthur, wrote a paper on the “telephone bridge system.” Part of their proposal—namely, increasing the self-inductance by adding coils to telephone and telegraph lines—was blocked by William Henry Preece, who at the time considered self-inductance the main enemy of transmission theory. Heaviside believed that Preece was suppressing research to protect his own achievements, leading to a long-standing antagonistic relationship between the two.

Pioneering Studies on Electromagnetic Radiation and Momentum Change

Later, in his 1888 and 1889 papers, Heaviside calculated the deformation of electric and magnetic fields around moving charges and their behavior upon entering dense media. He successfully derived the magnetic component of what is now known as the Lorentz force, and his work anticipated Cherenkov radiation. These studies had a profound impact on the development of electromagnetism and contributed significantly to the advancement of modern physics.

Electromagnetic Mass and Innovation in Mathematical Methods

From the late 1880s to the early 1890s, Heaviside developed the concept of electromagnetic mass, proposing a theory in which mass could be interpreted as an electromagnetic phenomenon. His mathematical approach, known for its use of differential operators, served as a precursor to the Laplace transform method. His theories were later verified at low speeds by Wilhelm Wien and have greatly influenced modern theoretical physics.

Summary of Heaviside’s Key Contributions

• Telephone bridge system proposal and conflict
  Suggested adding coils to telegraph lines, which was blocked by superiors
  Intense antagonism developed with Preece

• Pioneering electromagnetic radiation studies
  Theoretically clarified deformation of electric and magnetic fields around moving charges
  Contributed to correct derivation of Cherenkov radiation and Lorentz force

• Concept of electromagnetic mass and innovation in methods
  Proposed a theory treating electromagnetic mass as physical mass
  Established solution techniques using differential operators
  Greatly influenced future theoretical physics

In 1891, the Royal Society of London recognized Heaviside’s mathematical contributions to electromagnetism and appointed him as a Fellow. The following year, over 50 pages of the Royal Society’s Philosophical Transactions were dedicated to his vector methods and electromagnetic theory.

Heaviside’s Later Years and Recognition

In the spring of 1896, George FitzGerald and John Perry persuaded Heaviside—who had previously declined financial aid from the Royal Society—to accept an annual civil pension of £120.

According to anecdotes, some excellent scientists “threatened” his seclusion, effectively forcing him to accept the pension. After his father’s death in 1896, Heaviside began living alone for the first time and relocated from Paignton to Newton Abbot in 1897. In 1902, he proposed the existence of what would later be known as the “Kennelly–Heaviside layer,” a theorized ionosphere that profoundly impacted the understanding of radio wave propagation.

Beginnings of Solitude and Migration

The following timeline summarizes key events:

• 1896: Began living alone for the first time after his father’s death

• 1897: Moved from Paignton to Newton Abbot and began a new phase of life

Scientific Proposals and Honors

• 1902: Proposed the existence of the ionosphere (Kennelly–Heaviside layer), suggesting that radio waves could travel along the Earth’s curvature

• 1905: Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Göttingen

• 1904–1914: Nominated seven times as a finalist for the Nobel Prize in Physics

• 1922: Became the first recipient of the newly established Faraday Medal

Final Tragedy and Preservation of Legacy

• 1908: Moved from Newton Abbot to Torquay

• 1924: Suffered a serious injury after falling from an 11-foot ladder while repairing his roof

• February 3, 1925: Passed away from his injuries
  He was buried with his parents in Paignton Cemetery, and in 2005, an anonymous benefactor restored his gravestone

A Solitary Genius: Eccentricity in His Final Years and the Struggles Behind It
— His Eccentric Daily Life and Inner Conflicts as a Scientist —

Oliver Heaviside, known as a solitary theorist, was in fact quite health-conscious and active in his middle years. He was also a “sportsman” captivated by the cycling boom, possessing wide-ranging interests that went beyond the realm of science. However, in his later years, his life drastically changed. He cut off contact with society, and his behavior was increasingly seen as eccentric or even insane.

This chapter explores the bizarre behaviors of his final years, his religious beliefs, and ideological opposition to Einstein, offering a glimpse into the mind of a brilliant but tormented scientist.

An Active Theorist Enchanted by Bicycles

In late 19th-century Britain, a “cycling craze” swept the nation, and bicycles became explosively popular among both the upper and working classes. Heaviside was no exception; records show that he regularly enjoyed cycling.

Despite leading a quiet life of research, he also had a strong interest in outdoor exercise and health. Especially during middle age, he was said to be quite concerned about his physical condition. His younger brother Charles was a physician, which may have also influenced his outlook.

Looking at his life as a whole, Heaviside was never a reclusive crank; he was originally a balanced and energetic individual.

Eccentric Behaviors in Old Age: Signing “Devil” and Granite Furniture

From the 1920s onward, Heaviside’s behavior became increasingly erratic. One of the most well-known examples is that he began signing letters with an anagram of his name: “O! He is a very Devil.” He also started using the acronym “W.O.R.M.” as a title in his signature—possibly a form of dark humor or self-deprecation.

There are also stories of him using granite blocks as furniture, carrying them into his home. (This is referenced in exhibition records from the Royal Institution.) It is also said he painted his fingernails pink, and many around him began to see him as a madman or recluse.

One anecdote tells of Heaviside depositing a manuscript at a grocery store and expecting the journal editor to retrieve it from there, highlighting how limited and unusual his social interactions had become.

Science, Religion, and Intellectual Rift with Einstein

Heaviside was known to be a Unitarian, a religious denomination that rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and emphasizes belief in a single rational God. However, he reportedly had a weak sense of religion and even looked down on those who relied on faith. This suggests a deeply rooted rationalist and materialist worldview.

He also strongly opposed Einstein’s theory of relativity, a highly unusual stance at a time when many scientists were embracing it. According to mathematical historian Howard Eves, “He was perhaps the only top-level physicist of the time who openly criticized Einstein,” and his criticism was sometimes described as bordering on absurd.

Behind this opposition was Heaviside’s own electromagnetic-based worldview and likely frustration over the lack of recognition for his own achievements.

Reevaluation of a Forgotten Genius – The Heaviside Memorial Project Begins

Once hailed as a solitary genius, Oliver Heaviside lived out his final years in obscurity, and for a long time, even his grave was neglected. However, in 2014, researchers from Newcastle University and local residents launched the “Heaviside Memorial Project” to preserve and promote his legacy. Public donations were collected, and the gravestone was successfully restored.

The Founders and Their Mission

In July 2014, electromagnetic researchers at Newcastle University were troubled by the deteriorated state of Heaviside’s gravestone in Torbay (near Paignton, Devon). Together with the Newcastle Electromagnetics Interest Group, they initiated a restoration project, concerned that “despite his theories forming the foundation of modern communication, physics, and engineering, Heaviside is barely known to the public.” The project solicited public donations and reached its funding goal within a few weeks.

Gravestone Restoration and Commemorative Ceremony

The unveiling ceremony of the restored gravestone was held on August 30, 2014…

Design and Structure of the Restored Gravestone

During the restoration project, the original stonework—damaged and eroded over time—was reinforced and replaced with new materials that preserved the original design while offering improved visibility and durability.

The gravestone, modestly Gothic in style, bears the inscription “Oliver Heaviside, Mathematician and Physicist” at its center, along with his birth and death years (1850–1925) and the phrase: “He gave the world new ways to see the unseen.”

A Place Symbolizing the Dignity and Solitude of a Scientist

During his lifetime, Heaviside experienced friction with academic institutions and suffered from poor health, leading to a lonely later life. As a result, his grave was long neglected. However, the restored gravestone has now taken on new meaning—as a “site of narration” that simultaneously tells the story of a scientist’s social isolation and intellectual contributions. Visitors standing before it can quietly feel the weight of the equations and ideas he left behind.

Preserving and Passing On Scientific Heritage

The gravestone restoration project is more than a beautification effort. It serves as a powerful reminder to society of the importance of physically preserving the legacies of scientists. While science and technology constantly advance, the footprints of those who laid the foundations must also be passed on as cultural heritage.

Today, Heaviside’s gravestone has become a place of dialogue for researchers, citizens, and students—a new starting point for learning.

Heaviside’s Grave. [Source: Wikipedia]

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Honors Heaviside’s Achievements

Oliver Heaviside made significant contributions to the development of electromagnetism and communication theory. His work has long been highly esteemed by the British engineering community, both during his life and after his death.

His achievements are recognized through awards and memorial archives maintained by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). This section explores how his legacy continues to be valued and academically documented.

Traces of Heaviside in the IET Archive Centre

The IET Archive Centre in London holds a rich collection of primary materials related to Heaviside. These include notebooks filled with equations, manuscripts, correspondence, and original drafts of his major work Electromagnetic Theory.

Researchers can trace the evolution of his thinking through these documents. Notably, a 1950 memorial audio recording by Oliver E. Buckley of Bell Telephone Laboratories has been digitized and is available in the IET’s biographical archive.

Honorary Membership and the Faraday Medal: Recognition During His Lifetime

In 1908, the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), the predecessor of the IET, awarded Heaviside honorary membership—one of its highest honors—highlighting the great value of his theoretical contributions.

Furthermore, in 1922, Heaviside was selected as the very first recipient of the Faraday Medal, the most prestigious award in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.

The Heaviside Premium: A Lasting Tribute

In 1950, the IET established The Heaviside Premium to permanently honor Heaviside’s achievements. This annual award is given to the most outstanding mathematical paper, serving as a testament to how his theoretical influence continues to inspire researchers today.

While the original prize money was £10, the true value of the award lies in its role of passing down the legacy of Heaviside to future generations.

Heaviside’s Innovative Inventions and Theories

Oliver Heaviside introduced groundbreaking ideas across numerous fields—including electromagnetic theory, differential equations, signal transmission, and functional analysis.

This section highlights some of his most influential inventions and theories, exploring their enduring relevance in modern science and engineering.

Reformulation of Maxwell’s Equations and the Popularization of Vector Analysis

Maxwell’s original electromagnetic equations consisted of 20 scalar equations—highly complex and difficult to work with. Heaviside introduced vector analysis operators such as “curl” and “divergence,” reformulating the equations into four vector equations.

This significantly simplified both the understanding and teaching of electromagnetism and laid the foundation for what we now know as Maxwell’s Equations. This achievement, which bridged physics and engineering, stands as one of Heaviside’s greatest contributions.

Introduction of the Heaviside Step Function and Delta Function

The Heaviside step function, devised to mathematically represent the on/off switching of electrical circuits, is an essential tool in control engineering and signal processing.

Moreover, Heaviside was the first to apply what is now known as Dirac’s delta function as a unit impulse, long before Dirac provided a formal physical interpretation. Heaviside’s use of the function was based on engineering intuition rather than formal mathematics.

Signal Transmission Theory and Its Application to Telecommunications

Heaviside developed transmission line theory to enable faster and more accurate signal transmission through telegraph cables. These principles, later known as the telegrapher’s equations, remain fundamental in communication engineering.

His theory improved transatlantic cable performance dramatically—from requiring 10 minutes to transmit a single character to achieving a rate of one character per minute. He also demonstrated that inserting inductance (coils) in series with cables could reduce signal loss, offering practical and lasting improvements.