1900 – NPL begins

On the 1st January 1900 the Royal Society
appointed the first Director of NPL,
Richard Tetley Glazebrook FRS.

1902 – Opening of NPL 

NPL was formally opened on 19 March 1902 by the Prince of Wales, who said: 

I believe that in the National Physical Laboratory we have the first instance of the State taking part in scientific research. The object of the scheme is, I understand, to bring scientific knowledge to bear practically upon our everyday industrial and commercial life, to break down the barrier between theory and practice, to effect a union between science and commerce.

1908 – NPL begins testing on aeroplanes and airships

NPL’s initial research into the magnitude and distribution of wind forces was brought to the study of flight, leading to rapid advances in the efficiency and safety of the aeroplane and to increased recognition of the general value of scientific research in its application to engineering problems.