A pioneer in the development of modern ultrasound: Robert William Boyle (1883–1955)

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.07.030

Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology

Volume 33, Issue 1, January 2007, Pages 3-14

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2006.07.030 Get rights and content

Abstract

Robert William Boyle was one of the pioneers in the development and application of ultrasound. His remarkable career has not been previously traced in any depth, nor have his contributions, especially those during WWI, been carefully described. In collaboration with Lord Rutherford, his work on the development of ultrasound methods for submarine detection paralleled those in France under Paul Langevin (1872–1946), who many consider to be the father of modern ultrasound. This biographic account of Boyle’s life focuses on his ultrasound research contributions, particularly the developments during WWI and those in the 10 years after. Evidence is presented that his pioneering research, along with that of Langevin, provided much of the foundation for modern ultrasound developments. Although this paper is partially based on somewhat dispersed biographic information performed by others, original letters and research papers, in addition to records and verbal accounts provided by relatives, have been used and consulted. (E-mail: [email protected])

Section snippets

The early years (1883–1909)

Robert Boyle was born on October 2, 1883, in the fishing and sealing community of Carbonear, Newfoundland. Carbonear is about 60 miles from St. John’s and is located on the northern coast of Conception Bay. His father, Albert Desbrissay Boyle (1857–1932), was born on Prince Edward Island and studied medicine at McGill. Upon graduating in 1877 he initially established a practice as “Physician and Surgeon,” with an office and lodgings in Mr. John Foote’s Hotel in Carbonear (John Foote was a

Immediate postdoctoral years (1909–1911)

In 1909, Boyle was awarded an 1851 Exhibition Scholarship, the same scholarship that had been awarded to Rutherford when he was at Christchurch, University of New Zealand, and which had enabled him to study at the Cavendish Laboratory. It seems likely that Rutherford may have used his considerable influence to ensure that Boyle received this award, thereby enabling him to join his research group in Manchester. This group consisted of many outstanding scientists focused on understanding

Academia: Mcgill and Alberta (1911–1916)

On completing the 2-y term of his scholarship, Boyle returned to McGill in 1911 to join the Physics Department, first as Lecturer and then, in the second semester, as Assistant Professor (Shaw 1955). In writing to Rutherford on August 29, 1912, Boyle states that he missed the old regime in the Physics Department under Rutherford: “… and the feeling of continually treading on hot bricks is not exactly comfortable and for myself I love to breathe a free atmosphere” (Marsden 1956).

In 1907, fires

Development of sonar during world war I (1916–1919)

Hunt’s well-known book on electroacoustics (Hunt 1954) contained a full chapter on the history, including a well-researched section on the development of antisubmarine ultrasonic detection. In a footnote, Hunt pointed out that he had two oral interviews with Boyle to provide a firsthand perspective on the development of ultrasound during WWI.

By 1915, Boyle became concerned with the failure to make use of Canadian scientific expertise and, anxious to contribute to the war effort, he wrote to

Ultrasound research at the University of Alberta (1919–1929)

At the urging of Tory, Boyle returned to Alberta in 1919 to resume his appointment as Professor of Physics at the University of Alberta and to develop a research program focused on the fundamental ultrasonic problems that he had encountered while in England. Two years later, in 1921, he was appointed the Dean of the recently established Faculty of Applied Science, a position he used to create a hub of research in Western Canada. During his years at the University of Alberta, he performed many

National Research Council years (1929–1948)

By 1924, Dr. H.M. Tory (Boyle 1947) had left the University of Alberta to become the founding President of the National Research Council of Canada. According to Middleton (1979), Boyle was in Europe during the summer of 1928 and it seems that Tory had provided him with the expenses needed to visit various laboratories in France, Germany and England. In view of this, it seems likely that preliminary discussions had already taken place concerning the possibility of an appointment in the newly

The final period (1948–1955)

Boyle spent much of his retirement years traveling to many continents, enjoying the company of friends and relations and fishing. He was generally considered to be in good heath, but while on tour in Europe died with little warning in London on April 18, 1955. A funeral service was held at Golders Green Crematorium in London and his ashes were buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts, next to the graves of his parents. Although he never married, he had many relations and friends,

Scientific publications of R.W. Boyle

[1]
Boyle RW. Absorption of radioactive emanations by charcoal [abstract]. Am Electrochem Soc Trans 1908;13:429.
[2]
Boyle RW. Absorption of radio-active emanations by charcoal. J Phys Chem 1908;12:484–506.
[3]
Boyle RW. Absorption and adsorption with reference to the radio-active emanations. Bulletin of the Macdonald Physics Building, McGill University, No 1. pp.1 to 59, April 1910.
[4]
Boyle RW. Absorption and adsorption with reference to the radio-active emanations. PhD thesis (Supervisors: John Cox, H.T.

Acknowledgements

We especially thank Elinor and Robert Greenway of Lexington, MA, USA, Frederick Boyle of Springvale, ME, USA, Bert Parsons of Carbonear Newfoundland, Dr. John A. Campbell of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand and Sarah Power, previously studying at Memorial University, Newfoundland. They all provided us with valuable information (Elinor Greenway is the niece of Dr. Boyle and Frederick Boyle is the nephew). In addition, we are grateful for the assistance and copies of documents provided

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Historical reviewA pioneer in the development of modern ultrasound: Robert William Boyle (1883–1955)

Abstract

Section snippets

The early years (1883–1909)

Immediate postdoctoral years (1909–1911)

Academia: Mcgill and Alberta (1911–1916)

Development of sonar during world war I (1916–1919)

Ultrasound research at the University of Alberta (1919–1929)

National Research Council years (1929–1948)

The final period (1948–1955)

Scientific publications of R.W. Boyle

Acknowledgements

Rutherford and Boltwood, Letters on Radioactivity

Henry Marshall Tory: 1864–1947

Proc Trans Roy Soc Can

Rutherford, Scientist Supreme

Rutherford

Seek and Strike: Sonar Anti-submarine Warfare and the Royal Navy 1914–1954

Electroacoustics: The analysis of transduction and its historical background

Dr RW Boyle

Nature

Historical review
A pioneer in the development of modern ultrasound: Robert William Boyle (1883–1955)