George Gabriel Stokes (Stokes George Gabriel)

(1819-1903)
Born August 13, 1819 in Screen (Ireland). In 1841 he graduated from Cambridge University, from 1849 - Professor of Mathematics. Works Stokes belong to the field of hydrodynamics, optics, spectroscopy, mathematical physics. In 1845, Stokes developed the theory of viscosity of liquids, a mathematical theory of viscous fluids (Navier - Stokes). Derived a formula (1851) for the drag force acting on a rigid sphere of small size when it moves in an infinitely viscous medium (Stokes' law). In 1849 published several works on optics: Newton's rings studied, aberration, diffraction, interference, and polarization of light. In 1852 found that the wavelength of the luminescence is always greater than the wavelength of the excitation light (typically Stokes). Showed that the reflection of light is the phase shift of half the wavelength.
Stokes made a significant contribution to mathematics: the convergence of infinite series, brought one of the most important formulas of vector analysis, now bears his name.

From 1885 to 1890 was president of the Royal Society of London. Stokes died in Cambridge on Feb. 1, 1903.