Ernest Rutherford was born in Brightwater, New Zealand, on August 30, 1871. He was the son of James Rutherford, a farmer in New Zealand, but originally from Scotland. He and his wife Martha Thompson moved there to grow flax and raise their children. At birth, his name was misspelled "Earnest" on his birth certificate. At the age of 5, he and his family moved to Railhead, near Foxhill, so he could attend the local school. Then, when he was 10, they moved again to Marlborough Sounds so that his further away could be closer to his flax mill. In 1887, on his second attempt, he won the 'Marlborough Education Board Scholarship' to Nelson College. From 1887 to 1889 he was a boarder at Nelson College and was head boy in his final year. He then won, on his second attempt, one of 10 scholarships to Canterbury College. While studying, he participated in the debating society, scientific society and played rugby. He then obtained a BA (Bachelor of Arts) in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, English, French, Latin and physics. his mathematical skills won him the senior mathematics scholarship...