Biography of Michael Faraday

Introduction

Michael Faraday was an influential scientist who made a significant contribution in the electrical engineering field because of his numerous works in the research on the direct currents and fields of electromagnetism (Gladstone, 2014). Michael Faraday was a physicist and chemist who is famous for his main inventions in the electromagnetic induction which were an addition to the electrolysis law. He was born on the 22nd of September in southern London to impoverished parents. His father was a blacksmith at the same time sickly. He went to school and got the necessary training in reading and writing. Because of the humble state of his family, he was compelled by the situation to drop out of school at the age of 14 years and started an apprenticeship at a nearby bookbinder. This essay aims at detailing the biography of Michael Faraday alongside his achievement in the field of science.

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As a books and newsletter delivery person hired by Mr. Riebau, his job gave him breaks which were an encouragement to study more and read books. As he grew, he started to attend lectures locally which were held by John Tatum. While visiting the conference, he used to take shorthand notes which he did in-depth research later. As a result of lectures, he developed an interest in chemistry especially electricity. Through his attention, he researched more on galvanism, electricity, optics, hydrostatics, and geology.

By 1812, when he was 20 years, he got some invitations from Humphrey Davy, a famous scientist, as a result of being impressed by the notes he had sent. Faraday was later employed as his assistant, which was succeeded by the lifetime appointment at the royal institute in Great Britain by the Fullerian Professor of Chemistry (James 1992, pp. 232). This formed his major center of works, chemistry. He made a specific examination on chlorine and carbon chlorides. This played a particular role in the invention he made with the use of some chemistry equipment's that he developed such as the Bunsen burner. He discovered that mixing air with gas before lighting could result in rising of the temperature and light. This discovery is the one that has been modified by other scientist and is still being used in the laboratories across the globe.

However, his notable success was in the discovery of electromagnetism and electricity. Although electricity had been developed before, Faraday played a significant role in the provision of a stable electricity source. He achieved this through the model of electromagnetic rotation in 1821. Afterward, he portrayed his inventory skills by creating the first dynamo basing on his proven theories on electromagnetism which affected the 19th-century electricity industry.

Faraday was a great success in the field of science which was proved by his participation in some scientific projects (Shortland & Richard, 1996). For instance, he alongside Charles Lyell developed a report on the coal dust dangers after the big coal mine explosion in Durham County in 1865. He also made a lot of recommendations which however were not implemented until the occurrence of another coal explosion in 1913. Faraday also made an inquiry on the pollutions level of some rivers in London, researching and giving possible remedies to the city's air improvement and the quality of water. He also had some contribution though at a light note in other fields like lighthouses design and corrosion protection of the ships.

Faraday was not only a scientist but also a great teacher. He delivered successful lectures and science teachings through prop, wit, and humor which were interested in the audience. It also affected liveliness to the crowds through encouragement on the importance of thinking like a scientist and the impact it would cause in the world. He started the tradition of Christmas lecture to the young audience from 1827. He was a religious person with strong Christian convictions. He was a follower of the Sandemanian church, an offshoot of the Scotland church established in the eighteenth century (Cantor, 2016). There is a close link of his scientific discoveries as it influenced his work with a strong relationship with God which is attributed with his success. His belief in God was one of the causes as to why he turned down the request by the government of Britain to create the chemical weapons that would be used in the Crimean war (Jones & Michael, 2009). He was a deacon and an elder in the church, which was a popular and respectful position. He was married to one wife, Sarah Barnard, in 1821 in a church marriage. However, they did not bear any children. Faraday was offered some recognition in his work, but his humility made him turn them down. This offers included knighthood and Royal Institute president. His health started deteriorating in the early 1840's which had a significant impact in his scientific works, especially research. On 25th August 1867, he passed on at Hampton court. Although he did not achieve a lot financially as he died as miserable as he had been born, he left a significant mark in the electric field science. However, his legacy lives on as his works continue being recognized with the contribution it has made in the field of science.

Reference

Shortland, Michael, and Richard Yeo, eds. Telling lives in science: Essays on scientific biography. Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Cantor, Geoffrey. Michael Faraday: Sandemanian and scientist: a study of science and religion in the nineteenth century. Springer, 2016.

James, Frank AJL. "The tales of Benjamin Abbott: a source for the early life of Michael Faraday." The British journal for the history of science 25.2 (1992): 229-240.

Gladstone, John Hall. "Michael Faraday." 2014, doi:10.1017/cbo9781107262256.

Jones, Bence, and Michael Faraday. "The Life and Letters of Faraday." 2009, doi:10.1017/cbo9780511709821.