Lancashire Lantern
Lancashire Lantern: Lancashire Pioneers
Part of the Lancashire Lantern network, the Pioneers gives details of people who were famous local people in science, technology and innovation. These pioneers were either born in Lancashire or their endeavours made a significant contribution to the development of the County.
Sir Arthur Schuster - A pioneer in the use of X-Rays
Sir Arthur Schuster was born in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in 1851.
A mathematical physicist, he pioneered the use of x-ray in the field when he was Professor of Physics at Owens College (now part of the University of Manchester).
It was at Nelson that the first practical, portable, diagnostic use of x-rays was performed, outside the laboratory or hospital.
In December 1895, Willhelm Konrad Roentgen published a scientific paper, which was to change the world.
His description of the discovery of what became known as x-rays excited the scientific community of his time.
Professor Schuster was one of the first scientists to receive a copy of Roentgen's paper and was the first person to point out the medical possibilities of x-rays and their significance.
The incident which led to their first use in the field occurred in Nelson following the shooting of Elizabeth Ann Hartley on 23 April 1896.
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