Arthur Chattock

Arthur Chattock (1860–1934) was a British physicist who carried out telepathy experiments, now of mainly historical interest.

Life and Career

Arthur Prince Chattock was born on 14 August 1860 at Solihull, Warwickshire, UK. He studied engineering and physics at University College, London, then worked briefly as an electrical engineer for Siemens. In 1885 he was appointed demonstrator in physics at UC, Bristol. From 1887 to 1889 he worked as assistant lecturer to Oliver Lodge in Liverpool. In February 1888 he participated in key experiments contributing to the understanding of radio waves.

Between 1889 and 1909, Chattock was lecturer on physics and professor of physics and electrotechnology at Bristol. Changes at UC Bristol prompted him to leave his chair in physics in 1891. In 1911 that same institution – now the University of Bristol – awarded him an honorary DSc degree, and shortly afterwards the title of emeritus professor. During World War I he spent most of his time as a chicken farmer at Crowcombe, Somerset, doing extensive research on poultry.

He resumed his university teaching in 1919, and a year later was made a fellow of the Royal Society.

Shortly before his retirement (1924), Chattock carried out definitive experiments on the gyromagnetic ratio of iron. In recognition of his work the university endowed a permanent Chattock Research Studentship in the Wills Physical Laboratory.1

Chattock died on 1 July 1934 at his home in Clifton, Bristol.

Psychical Research

Chattock became acquainted with Oliver Lodge at University College, London and the two corresponded extensively about electrical physics. In the course of this, Chattock learned about Lodge’s interests in telepathy and spiritualism, which he began to share. He joined the Society for Psychical Research in 1890, making frequent donations and giving public lectures.2

Telepathy Experiments

In September 1897 at Harrow, London, Chattock conducted informal experiments with RC Clinker and EB Wedmore, former students of his. Clinker and Chattock acted as ‘senders’ and Wedmore as ‘receiver’ (referred to in the report respectively as ‘agent’ and ‘percipient’, the terms then in use).

Wedmore sat about three yards from the senders. Seven trials were made, in which it was agreed what type of image or idea would be sent.3 The first image, a geometrical figure, was exactly reproduced (see Fig 1), and correspondences were observed in some others.

Endnotes

Footnotes

- 1. Tyndall (1932-35), 294.

- 2. Noakes (2019), 108.; Anon (1934a), 278.

- 3. Chattock (1898), 303.

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