WRIGHT, Arthur Williams, physicist, born in Lebanon, Connecticut, 8 September, 1836. He was graduated at Yale in 1859, and received the degree of Ph. D. there in 1861. Subsequently he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1866, but did not practise. In 1863-'8 he was a tutor at Yale, and in 1868-'9 he studied physical science in Heidelberg and Berlin. In 1869 he became professor of phys-its and chemistry in Williams, but he returned to Yale in 1872 as professor of molecular physics and chemistry. The title of his chair was changed in 1887 to that of experimental physics. Since 1885 he has had charge of the Sloane physical laboratory at Yale, which was constructed under his supervision. Professor Wright was the first to observe and describe the electric shadow in 1870-'1, devised a new apparatus for the production of ozone, and investigated its action upon alcohol and ether in 1872-'4; also in 1874 determined the polarization of the zodiacal light, measuring its amount, and investigated its spectrum. He was the first to discover gases in stony meteorites, to extract them and determine their composition, obtaining their spectra in vacuum tubes, and pointing out their relation to the spectra of comets as affording a probable explanation of the latter. In 1877 he devised a method of applying the discharge of electricity in a vacuum to deposit the metal of the electrode upon glass or other surfaces, so as to form brilliant transparent metallic films. He was member of the party that was stationed at La Junta, Colonel, to observe the total solar eclipse of 1878, when he determined the character and degree of polarization of the light of the corona with a special form of polarimeter. The same instrument was employed in the detection and measurement of the polarization of the light of several comets and of the moon in 1881-'3. He has devised a novel standard barometer and a simple apparatus for distilling mercury in vacuo, which has been adopted by the United States signal service. In 1881-'6 he was consulting specialist to the United States signal service bureau. Professor Wright was chosen in 1879 a fellow of the Royal astronomical society, and in 1881 a member of the National academy of science, he was one of the collaborators in the revisions of Webster's "Dictionary" in 1862-'4 and in 1885-'8. He is the author of many scientific papers.