Robert Woodrow Wilson

My high school career was undistinguished except for math and science. However, having barely been admitted to Rice University, I found that I enjoyed the courses and the elation of success and graduated with honors in physics. I did a senior thesis with C.F. Squire, building a regulator for a magnet for use in low-temperature physics.

American Scientist

The term evokes knighthood and feudalism, useful for understanding historical class systems.

Medieval Role

Becoming a squire was a step towards knighthood, involving training in combat and courtly manners.

Chivalric Training

Squires weren't ordinary servants; they held a respected position with social prestige.

Not Just Servants

Squires were significant in rural communities, often taking leadership and judicial roles.

Rural Influence

A squire was often seen as a paternal figure, someone who upheld local traditions and values.

Local Patriarch

As landowners, squires lived in manor houses and managed the surrounding estates.

Manorial Lord

Squiring a woman emphasizes gentlemanly behavior and respect in social settings.

Gentlemanly Conduct

Using 'squire' in this way can be charming but may feel outdated or overly formal.

Old-Fashioned Charm

 What were scientists called before? What had changed to make a new name necessary precisely at that moment? Prior to this meeting, those who studied the natural world were talented amateurs. Think of the country clergyman or squire collecting his beetles or fossils,

Laura Snyder: The...

 his novel’s success in the world of his characters. This unconventional meta-awareness created philosophical complexity, as the knight and his squire ponder the meaning of their story.