John James Nolan

Professor John James Nolan (1888–1952) was an Irish physicist and President of the Royal Irish Academy from 1949 to 1952.

He was born near Omagh, County Tyrone and educated at University College, Dublin. After graduation in 1909 he carried out research in the Physics Department under Professor John A. McClelland on the electrical charge of rain. He was awarded D.Sc in 1917.

In 1920 he succeeded McClelland as Professor of Experimental Physics, guiding research into atmospheric electricity and aerosols. Together with his brother, T.J. Nolan, and their students, they studied ionization, equilibrium and the relationships of small and large ions in the lower atmosphere. He also, with V.H. Guerrini, developed in 1935 the diffusion battery for measuring the size of aerosol particles.

In 1920 he was elected a Member of the Royal Irish Academy, becoming Secretary in 1923 and President from 1949 to 1952. He was also Registrar of University College, Dublin from 1940 until his death in 1952.