John Viriamu Jones

John Viriamu Jones, FRS (2 January 1856 – 1 June 1901), was a British scientist, who worked on measuring the ohm, and an educationalist who was instrumental in establishing the University of Sheffield and Cardiff University.

Early life and studies

John Viriamu Jones was born in Pentrepoeth in Swansea, the son of Thomas Jones, a celebrated Independent clergyman, and Jane Jones. He was named after the missionary and martyr John Williams - 'Viriamu' being the Erromanga for "Williams". His older brother, David Brynmor Jones (b. 1851) and younger brother Leifchild Stratten Jones (b. 1862), both achieved prominence in public life.

In 1858 Jones's parents moved to London, and he was educated firstly at a private school in Reading, then at University College School in London. In 1867 his mother died, and at the end of 1869 his father left London and returned to Swansea, where he stayed until 1877; and John Viriamu continued his education at the Normal College, Swansea, before going up to University College London at the age of 16. He obtained his first degree there at the age of only nineteen, and in 1874 won a scholarship to the University of Oxford (Balliol college), where he became a friend of Benjamin Jowett and obtained first class honours in both mathematics and physics.

Career

In 1881, at the early age of twenty-five, Jones became principal of Frith College in Sheffield - later the University of Sheffield.

In 1883, still in his twenties, he became...
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