JAMES PRESCOTT JOULE. – Born in Salford near Manchester on 24 Dec. 1818, died in Sale (Cheshire) on 11 Oct. 1889. Alongside the Germans J. R. Mayer and H. V. HELMHOLTZ, HERMANN VON, he is considered a founder of the theory of heat.
On the basis of numerous and accurate experiments, some fundamental for the progress of the sciences, he determined the thermal equivalent of work (1843) and the law that bears his name on the thermal effects of electric current (v. UNITÀ E DIMENSIONI FISICHE). In his writings he admired the wisdom of God the Creator in the laws governing the universe.
BIBL.: C. L. Kneller, Il cristianesimo ed i naturalisti moderni, trad. it., Brescia 1906, p. 23-28.