The photograph was first seen at King's College London during a Royal Institution lecture on colour theory by the Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell on the 17 May 1861 and the college is marking the 150th anniversary of that demonstration with an evening of talks celebrating his scientific discoveries.

BBC: Pioneering colour photography

In 1995 Cambridge appointed him to the prestigious Cavendish professorship, whose list of past incumbents includes James Maxwell (1831-79), who created the theory of electromagnetic waves.

FORBES: Innovators