Roentgen, Wilhelm Conrad. The discoverer of x-rays. Of Dutch origin, born in 1845. Roentgen began his university studies at Zurich, and from there followed Professor Kundt to Wurzburg, and afterwards to Strassburg, in which university he acted as Kundt's assistant in 1873. In 1875 Roentgen became professor of physics and mathematics at the Agricultural Academy in Wurttemberg; in 1876, he returned to Strassburg; in 1879, became professor at Giessen, in 1885 at Wurzburg and, in 1899, at Munich. He wrote several works on scientific subjects, and studied the effects of electricity when passed through various gases; also, the absorption of heat rays by steam and gases. His discovery of the rays, which he named x-rays, came by chance when he was experimenting with vacuum tubes. Roentgen studied them thoroughly, however, before making his discovery public. Died 1923.

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