the result of these reforms was a revitalisation of the scottish university system, which expanded to 6,254 students by the end of the century and produced leading figures in both the arts and sciences. the chair of engineering at glasgow became highly distinguished under its second incumbent william john macquorn rankine (1820–72), who held the position from 1859 to 1872 and became the leading figure in heat engines and founder president of the institution of engineers and shipbuilders in scotland. thomas thomson (1773–1852) was the first professor of chemistry at glasgow and in 1831 founded the shuttle street laboratories, perhaps the first of their kind in the world. his students founded practical chemistry at aberdeen soon after. william thomson, 1st baron kelvin was appointed to the chair of natural philosophy at glasgow aged only 22. his work included the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics. by 1870 kelvin and rankine made glasgow the leading centre of science and engineering education and investigation in britain.