Am.  Jour  Pharm.* 
November,  1894.  { 
Life  of  Michael  Faraday. 
529 
FACTS  IN  BRIEF  FROM  THE  LIFE  OF  MICHAEL 
FARADAY. 
Compiled  from  "  Thorpe's  Sketches  in  Historical  Chemistry." 
Written  for  the  American  Journal  of  Pharmacy. 
By  Wiuiam  B.  Thompson. 
Born  in  England,  179 1.  Poor,  with  limited  schooling.  Errand 
boy  at  twelve,  to  bookseller.  Love  of  books  led  to  pursuit  of 
knowledge.  Watts  on  the  Mind,  and  Mrs.  Marcet's  conversation  on 
chemistry,  inculcated  the  habit  of  reflection  and  observation,  and 
aroused  love  for  science.  Frequently  went,  during  boyhood,  to* 
hear  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  lecture  at  the  Royal  Institution.  Finally,, 
became,  ere  he  reached  twenty  years,  laboratory  assistant  and 
amanuensis  to  Davy.  He  took  copious  notes  of  Davy's  lectures, 
amplified  them  and  illustrated  them  with  rude  sketches  or  drawings 
of  apparatus.  Travelled  on  the  Continent  and  through  Ifaly  with 
Davy  and  his  spouse,  acting,  partly,  in  the  capacity  of  valet,  much 
to  Faraday's  disgust.  Expresses  his  preference  for  the  pursuit  of 
science  to  that  of  the  occupations  of  trade  as  follows :  "  To  escape 
from  trade  because  of  its  viciousness  and  selfishness,  and  to  enter 
the  service  of  science  in  order  to  cultivate  the  amiability  and  liber- 
ality of  feeling  which  pertains  to  its  votaries."  During  the  first 
decade  of  the  present  century  and  during  Faraday's  pupilage,  Davy 
discovered  the  metallic  state  of  potassium  and  determined  the  ele- 
mentary character  of  iodine.  (One  Courtois,  a  manufacturer  of 
saltpetre  at  Paris,  is  credited  with  the  discovery  of  iodine  in  18 12.) 
Faraday  delivered  his  first  lecture  January  17,  18-16,  to  the  City 
Philosophical  Society,  on  "  The  General  Properties  of  Matter."  With 
Faraday  lecturing  was  an  art  to  be  acquired.  He  was  original  in 
thought  and  copious  in  illustration.  He  carefully  and  systematically 
studied  the  art  of  lecturing  in  a  manner  to  secure  attention  and  impart 
knowledge.  In  order  to  cultivate  grace  of  manner  and  give  greater 
force  and  expression  to  his  teaching,  he  took  private  lessons  in  elocu- 
tion. He  possessed  the  faculty  of  interesting  the  young  and  evinced  a 
remarkable  talent  in  his  ability  to  convey  information,  especially 
to  the  youthful  mind.  Faraday  received  no  less  than  ninety-five 
honorary  titles  and  marks  of  merit  from  the  various  learned  socie- 
ties existent  in  Europe  and  America.  In  1829  he  became  connected 
with  his  government  in  a  scientific  capacity.  He  was  called  upon 
to  investigate  causes  of  mine  explosion.    To  devise  ventilation  for 
