Michael Faraday (1791-1867), the son of a blacksmith, described his education as "little more than the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic at a common day-school." Yet from such basics, he became one of the most prolific and wide-ranging experimental scientists who ever lived. As a bookbinder's apprentice with a voracious appetite for learning, he read every book he got his hands on. In 1812 he attended a series of chemistry lectures by Sir Humphry Davy at London's prestigious Royal Institution. He took copious and careful notes, and, in the hopes of landing a scientific job, bound them and sent them to the lecturer. Davy was impressed enough to hire the 21-year-old as a laboratory assistant. In his first decade at the Institution, Faraday discovered benzene, isobutylene, and two chlorides of carbon. But despite these and other accomplishments in chemistry, he is chiefly remembered for his work in physics. In 1831 he proved that magnetism could generate an electric current, thereby establishing the field of electromagnetism and leading to the invention of the dynamo. In addition to his extraordinary scientific activities, Faraday was a leader in his church, whose faith and wish to serve guided him throughout his career. An engaging public speaker, he gave popular lectures on scientific subjects, and helped found a tradition of scientific education for children and laypeople that continues to this day. Oxford Portraits in Science is an ongoing series of scientific biographies for young adults. Written by top scholars and writers, each biography examines the personality of its subject as well as the thought process leading to his or her discoveries. These illustrated biographies combine accessible technical information with compelling personal stories to portray the scientists whose work has shaped our understanding of the natural world.

Michael Faraday: Physics and Faith (Oxford Portraits in Science)

Children's Books

RUSSELL, Colin A.

Biographies

Oxford University Press

Science and Social Change, 1700-1900 (Themes in Comparative History)

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

PALGRAVE~MACMILLAN

Originally published in 1994, The Earth, Humanity and God discusses the relationship between science and religion. The book discusses the condition of the earth (as it was at the time of publication) and the future prospects of the planet, arguing that neither the conventional "mechanistic" view nor "New Age" philosophy helps alone in evaluating our relationship with the Earth. The book examines methods of combatting the threats to the Earth exploring both a scientific and non-scientific stance, investigating the uncontrolled expansion of technology as well as empirical pre-scientific mysticism. The book also explores the resurgence in ancient ideas of "Mother Earth" as a dangerous piece of romantic irrationality and suggests, that these views pose a danger to religious/scientific examinations. The book suggests instead a hard-headed attempt to relate Biblical and scientific data, and that this in turn can yield a valuable new understanding of the problems facing the world.

The Earth, Humanity and God: The Templeton Lectures Cambridge, 1993 (Routledge Revivals)

Religion & Spirituality

Routledge

The Earth, Humanity and God (Routledge Revivals)

This is the first scientific biography of Edward Frankland, probably the most eminent chemist of nineteenth century Britain. Frankland discovered the chemical bond and founded the science of organometallic chemistry. Recently, Professor Russell gained access to a vast collection of Frankland's private papers. This authoritative account discloses, among much else, a conspiracy of silence in the scientific community surrounding Frankland's origins as an illegitimate child. It will be of great interest to professional chemists, historians of science, and general readers concerned with the social fabric of Victorian England.

Edward Frankland: Chemistry, Controversy and Conspiracy in Victorian England

Biographies & Memoirs

Cambridge University Press

This is the first scientific biography of Edward Frankland, probably the most eminent chemist of nineteenth century Britain. Frankland discovered the chemical bond and founded the science of organometallic chemistry. Recently, Professor Russell gained access to a vast collection of Frankland's private papers. This authoritative account discloses, among much else, a conspiracy of silence in the scientific community surrounding Frankland's origins as an illegitimate child. It will be of great interest to professional chemists, historians of science, and general readers concerned with the social fabric of Victorian England.

There have been several attempts to write the history of Britain's chemical industry as a whole, and countless others concentrating on individual companies. Some have looked at the technical aspects of the industry, whilst others have addressed economic issues. Few have, however, attempted to analyse the effects of the chemical industry on society in general. The current environmental crisis can only be fully understood in the light of its history. This is the first such book to look critically at the whole development of industrial chemistry in the UK in the context of its effects on the environment. No one from industry, government or academia can afford to be unaware of the historical roots of our present dilemma. Industrial chemists can take heart from the realization that their predecessors were remarkably aware of the problems and often found satisfactory solutions. Industrial chemistry has traditionally been seen as the great 'polluter'. Without any attempts at 'whitewash' this book puts the record straight. From academic chemist to industrialist to politician, Chemistry, Society and Environment: A New History of the British Chemical Industry will be of relevance to all those concerned with the social and environmental impact of the chemical industry.

Chemistry, Society and Environment: A New History of the British Chemical Industry

Business & Money

Campbell, V

Coley, N G

Wilmot, S A H

Economics

Royal Society of Chemistry, [

Cross-Currents: Interactions between Science and Faith

Regent College Pub

One of the most important parts of British heavy industry today is our railway system. Its constant appearances in news bulletins, its enormous appeal to fans or "enthusiasts", its permanent role in the lives of most of us, and its economic significance today, all underline its importance. Railway historians and enthusiasts will be surprised to learn that chemists played an important part in the development of the railway industry in Britain. Chemists themselves are well aware of the many and wide-ranging applications of their discipline, but the fact that their predecessors were involved in the technological development of railways will come as a surprise to many. This book is the first detailed study of this important interaction and covers the crucial role that chemistry played in the development of the British railway industry from its beginnings in the early 19th century up to the grouping of the railways of 1923 into GWR, SR, LNER, and LMSR.
 The book describes the vital relationship between chemistry and the railway industry, all very recently discovered. It shows that the railway system would simply have not been possible without chemical inputs, chiefly but by no means entirely analytical. This discovery about a huge revenue-earning industry in Britain came from rare documents recently unearthed and other archival material and the book contains many rare illustrations and vast amounts of previously unpublished material. For the historian, it is a classic case of where history of science and history of technology converge. A great many engineers contributed to the enormous technological development which occurred in the railway industry between 1830 and 1923, but working alongside the engineers were the chemists, and in certain critical areas their contribution to this development was vital. It is a contribution which up until now has not been adequately recognised, and this book puts the record straight.
 The book has an unusually wide appeal, being of interest to practising chemists, those interested in the history of chemistry and its role in society, historians of science and technology, mechanical engineers, and not least railway enthusiasts and railway historians. The chemist will be justly proud of the extreme importance of the subject for industry and the railway enthusiast will gain a wholly new picture of the development of the industry in Britain.

Early Railway Chemistry and its Legacy

Engineering & Transportation

Hudson,John

Transportation

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Books by RUSSELL, Colin A.