SKETCH OF THE CAREER OF COUNT RUMFORD. XV11 



It was this country, widely reproached for being over-practical, 

 which produced just that kind of working ability that was suited 

 to translate this profound question from the barren to the fruitful 

 field of inquiry. It is a matter of just national pride that the two 

 men who first demonstrated the capital propositions of pure sci- 

 ence, that lightning is but a case of common electricity, and that 

 heat is but a mode of motion who first converted these proposi- 

 tions from conjectures of fancy to facts of science, were not only 

 Americans by birth and education, but men eminently representa- 

 tive of the peculiarities of American character Benjamin Frank- 

 lin and Benjamin Thompson, afterwards known as Count Kumford. 

 The latter philosopher is less known than the former, though his 

 services to science and society were probably quite as great. The 

 prominence which his name now occupies in connection with the 

 new views of heat, and the relations of forces, make it desirable to 

 glance briefly at his career. 



BENJAMIN THOMPSON was born at "Woburn, Mass., in 1753. He 

 received the rudiments of a common school education ; became a 

 merchant's apprentice at twelve, and subsequently taught school. 

 Having a strong taste for mechanical and chemical studies, he cul- 

 tivated them assiduously during his leisure time. At seventeen he 

 took charge of an academy in the village of Rumford (now Con- 

 cord), N". H., and in 1772 married a wealthy widow, by whom he 

 had one daughter. At the outbreak of revolutionary hostilities he 

 applied for a commission in the American service, was charged 

 with toryism, left the country in disgust, and went to England. 

 His talents were there appreciated, and he took a responsible posi- 

 tion under the government, which he held for some years. 



After receiving the honor of knighthood he left England and 

 entered the service of the elector of Bavaria. He settled in Mu- 

 nich in 1784, and was appointed aide-de-camp and chamberlain to 

 the Prince. The labors which he now undertook were of the most 

 extensive and laborious character, and could never have been ac- 



