First-class honours all the way for Lawrence Bragg after entering Adelaide University at exceptional age of 15
Lawrence Bragg, enrolled at Adelaide University at 15, studied Physics 1, Inorganic Chemistry 1 (BA course) and second-year pure mathematics, getting a first-class pass in each.
Image courtesy State Library of South Australia
Lawrence Bragg completed his secondary education in 1905 – at the age of 15.
His father William wondered about bringing such a young boy to Adelaide University that had a rule permitting students under 16 only in special circumstances. William had his own painful final year at King William’s College when he was sent back to school because of his youth. His academic work stagnated and he was traumatised by the religious intensity at the college.
Lawrence enrolled at Adelaide University in 1906. He studied Physics 1, Inorganic Chemistry 1 (BA course), and second-year pure mathematics, getting a first-class pass in each. In 1907, he did as well results in Pure Maths lll, Applied Maths H, Physics 11 and Chemistry I (theoretical and experimental). Much of his mathematics and physics tutoring came from his father.
Lawrence later recalled his undergraduate life with some sadness: “Although I was 15 when I entered Adelaide University I think my emotional age was about 12 or less, and my fellow students were mature young men and women. Such a disparity has a cumulative effect. Anyone handicapped in this way is debarred from taking part in those normal activities of his age group, and the very fact that he cannot enter into their plans, schemes, differences of opinion, exercise of authority and so forth means that he loses the earlier experience which would teach him how to take his place later in life in the world of affairs".
Lawrence’s relationship with his peers was not helped by the use of his father’s university office for study purposes, which William encouraged. In 1908, aged 18, Lawrence undertook the honours mathematics course and graduated BA with first-class honours.
Lawrence left for England on the Waratah (a ship that sank on its next voyage) in 1909 when his father accepted the physics chair at Leeds University.
