Sir Andrew Noble, 1st Baronet, was a Scottish physicist and artillery expert who is considered a founder of the science of ballistics.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1831, Noble studied at the Edinburgh Academy and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. After graduating from Woolwich, he served as an artillery officer in the British Army during the Crimean War.
After the war, Noble became a research engineer for the Armstrong Whitworth armaments company. He quickly became a leading expert in ballistics, and his work helped to improve the accuracy and range of British artillery.
Noble's most significant contribution to ballistics was his development of the "Noble formula," which is used to calculate the trajectory of a projectile. This formula is still in use today.
Noble also played a key role in the development of the Armstrong breech-loading gun, which was a major advance in artillery technology. This gun was used by the British Army in the Boer War and in World War I.
In addition to his work in ballistics, Noble was also a successful businessman. He served as chairman of Armstrong Whitworth from 1900 until his death in 1915.
Noble was a highly respected figure in the field of artillery. He was knighted in 1885 and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1888. He was also awarded the Albert Medal and the Royal Medal.
Noble's work in ballistics had a profound impact on the development of artillery. His contributions helped to make British artillery one of the most powerful in the world.