The Faraday centenary : an errand boy who changed the world.

Date:
[1931]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The Faraday centenary : an errand boy who changed the world. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    for the eager youth of twenty-one; and this proved to be the critical point. He made full notes, copied them out with extreme care in his beautiful, decora¬ tive handwriting, bound them, and sent them to Sir Humphry in December 1812, with a letter expressing his distaste for a business life and asking the great man’s help in obtaining some more congenial work. The appeal impressed Sir Humphry and he replied kindly; but in an interview he suggested that the young man would do better to stick to his trade, promising him the' book-binding of the Institution. Soon afterwards, however, the opportunity came. The assistant in the laboratory of the Institution had proved unsatisfactory; had been, in fact, “ejected” for unruly conduct and general inefficiency. Davy remembered the young applicant, sent for him, and at this second conversation asked him if he still wished to change his occupation. There could be no doubt of the reply, and as a result Faraday was formally engaged as laboratory assistant on March 1, 1813, his salary being 25s. a week. Thus, through his
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