1862 - entered the Glasgow Academy. 1869 - began to work in the laboratory of Robert Tatlock. 1870 - went to Heidelberg. 1872 - received PhD degree at Tübingen, Germany. 1880 - appointed professor of chemistry at University College, Bristol. 1887 - elected to the chair of general chemistry at University College, London. 1894 - began research on the seemingly chemically inert, monatomic, elemental gases. 1895 - created helium in a laboritory for the first time. 1904 - became the first British recipient of the Nobel prize for chemistry.