The life of Sir Humphry Davy : Bart., LL. D., late president of the Royal Society, foreign associate of the Royal Institute of France, &c. / by John Ayrton Paris.

  • Paris, John Ayrton, 1785-1856.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of Sir Humphry Davy : Bart., LL. D., late president of the Royal Society, foreign associate of the Royal Institute of France, &c. / by John Ayrton Paris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Birth and family of Sir H. Davy.—Davy placed at a preparatory school.—His peculiarities when a boy.—Anecdotes.—He is admitted into the grammar-school at Penzance.—Finishes his education under Dr. Cardew at Truro.—Death of his father—He is apprenticed by his mother to Mr. John Bingham Borlase, a surgeon and apothecary.—He enters upon the study of Chemistry, and devotes more time to Philosophy than to Physic.—The influence of early impressions illus- trated.—His poetical talent.—Specimens of his versification.—An Epic Poem composed by him at the age of twelve years.—His first original experiment in chemistry.—He conceives a new theory of heat and light.—His ingenious experiment to demonstrate its truth—He becomes known to Mr. Davies Gilbert, the founder of his future fortunes.—Mr. Gregory Watt arrives at Pen- zance, and lodges in the house of Mrs. Davy.—The visit of Dr. Beddoes and Professor Hailstone to Cornwall.—The correspondence between Dr. Beddoes and Mr. Davies Gilbert, relative to the Pneumatic Institution at Bristol, and the proposed appointment of Davy.—His final departure from his native town. ........ Page 1 CHAPTER II. Cursory thoughts on the advantages of Biography.—Plan and objects of the Pneumatic Insti- tution.—Davy contracts friendships during his residence at Bristol.—His first visit to London.— His Letters to Mr. Davies Gilbert.—The publication of the West Country Contributions, by Dr. Beddoes.—Davy’s Essays on Heat, Light, and Respiration. — His interesting experiments on bonnet canes—He commences an enquiry into the nature of nitrous oxyd.—He publishes his chemical researches.—A critical examination of the work—Testimony of Tobin, Clayfield, Sou- they, and others, respecting the powers of nitrous oxyd.—Davy breathes carburetted hydrogen gas, and nearly perishes from its effects.—His new Galvanic experiments communicated in a Letter to Mr. Gilbert. ......... 40 CHAPTER III. Count Rumford negotiates with Mr. Underwood on the subject of Davy’s appointment to the Royal Institution.—Terms of his engagement communicated in a letter to Mr. Gilbert.—Davy arrives, and takes possession of his apartments. — He receives various mortifications. — He is bz