Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday was one of the most influential scientists in history. He made significant contributions to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry, and his discoveries laid the foundation for many modern technologies. He was also a prolific lecturer and popularizer of science, who inspired generations of scientists and engineers. Faraday was born in 1791 in a poor family in London. He received little formal education, but he had a curious and inquisitive mind. He became interested in science after reading books and attending public lectures. He also joined a local philosophical society, where he learned to conduct experiments and write reports. In 1812, Faraday was apprenticed to a bookbinder, who gave him access to many scientific books. He also attended lectures by the eminent chemist Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution, and impressed him with his notes and correspondence. Davy hired Faraday as his assistant in 1813, and took him on a tour of Europe, where he met many prominent scientists. Faraday soon became an independent researcher at the Royal Institution, where he conducted experiments on electricity, magnetism, chemistry, light, and sound. He discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction, which showed that electricity could be generated by moving a magnet near a wire. He also invented the first electric motor and dynamo, and demonstrated the rotation of the plane of polarization of light by a magnetic field. He also discovered the laws of electrolysis, which explained how electric currents could decompose substances into their elements. He also discovered benzene, a hydrocarbon compound, and investigated the properties of gases and metals. Faraday was a devout Christian and a member of the Sandemanian sect, which emphasized personal faith and simplicity. He was also a humble and generous man, who refused many honors and awards, and declined to become a knight or a president of the Royal Society. He was married to Sarah Barnard, but they had no children. He suffered from poor health and memory loss in his later years, and died in 1867 at Hampton Court, where he had been given official lodgings. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery, where a memorial stands in his honor.