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Michael Faraday, Director of the Laboratory of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, is the son of a Journeyman Blacksmith from Newcastle2 who died in London many years ago, leaving a widow, and four children, totally unprovided for.
After the Fathers decease, the Mother by the profits of a Lodging house in Welbeck Street, could with difficulty, keep them from absolute want.
Michael was taken as an Errand Boy by Mr Riebaud3 a Bookbinder, and Newspaper Vender in Portland Street, and after 12 months service, was apprenticed to his Master for 7 years; his fellow apprentices being, Oxberry4 the comedian, and Fitzwilliam5, the singer.
Faraday passed his leisure hours in copying out of books which he had to bind, "anything curious".
Whilst binding a volume of the Encyclopaedia, he was much struck by reading in it, the article "Electricity"6.
Prevented by poverty from procuring in the ordinary manner, an electrical apparatus of the meanest kind, he saw in an old rag shop in Little Chesterfield Street, two bottles, which he thought would answer the purpose; the price however was beyond his means - he watched these daily; till at length able to raise six pence for the one and a penny, for the other, he converted the one into an Electrical Cylinder, and the other into a Leyden Jar - a bullet and a bit of Wire, was the Conductor7.
His Master allowed him to attend Tatum's8 Chemical Lectures delivered in Dorset Street, Salisbury Square; of these he took copious notes, which he transcribed fairly before he went to Bed. The admission Fee to each lecture, was a shilling, and he hoarded up all the Money he got given him, to pay it.
His language being that of the most illiterate, induced Mr. Magrath (the Secretary of the City Philosophical Society, and now of the Athenaeum Club,) who attended the same lectures, to devote two hours every week to his instruction; and for 7 years, did Faraday uninterruptedly receive them.
When early out of his apprenticeship he addressed a Letter to Sir Joseph Banks9, soliciting him, as president of the Royal Society, to place him in any scientific situation, however menial, he left the letter himself - promised to call for his answer in two or three days - he did so - repeated his call three or four times, and was at last told, that Sir Joseph had said "the letter required no answer"10. He was almost disconsolate.
Whilst his 5 quarto volumes of Manuscripts of Tatum's Lectures which he had just bound11, were on his Master's Counter, Mr. Dance12 a member of the Royal Institution coming accidentally to the Shop, looked into them - represented what he had seen to the Managers, and [gained] for him gratuitous admission to Sir Humphry Davy's lectures; and that he might take sketches of the apparatus used by Sir Humphry he, Faraday, obtained from Marquesiere [sic], instructions in perspective.
Of these Lectures he took Notes, which were forwarded to Davy, this led to an interview, at which Sir Humphry promised to do anything he could for him, whenever an opportunity should offer.
His apprenticeship ended, carrying with him for his exemplary conduct, not only the respect but even the love of his Master, for support, he worked as a journeyman to La Roche13, the Bookbinder, his wages being 30 shillings a week. Some months after this engagement, Davy having injured his eye sight, took him as his Amanuensis14. This so broke in upon La Roche's plans, that hoping to retain Faraday's services, he promised on certain conditions, to give up his business to him, and "thus to make him a Man of Property". The proposal however Faraday declined accepting.
The Office of Fire-lighter, Sweeper, Apparatus-cleaner and washer - or of "Fag and Scrub" in the Institution Laboratory becoming vacant - on Davy's recommendation Faraday was appointed to it - his wages being a guinea a week15.
On Sir Humphry's going to the Continent, the Managers of the Institution, authorised him to accompany him; themselves finding a locum tenens, during his absence16.
On his return to England he was made "Assistant in the Laboratory", with a salary of 70 pounds a year - the use of two rooms - with as many coals and candles as he wanted17.
Now that his pecuniary circumstances were improved, he sent his younger Sister18 to a boarding school; but to enable him to defray the expense, to deprive himself of dinner every other day was absolutely indispensable.
About eight years ago he was appointed Director of the Laboratory of the Royal Institution19, and member of the Institution without purchase20. His Salary was increased to £100 a year21, and he was absolved from waiting on the Lecturers in the Theatre of the Institution22.
About the year 1829, he was appointed "Scientific Adviser to the Admiralty"23 - about the same time, was chosen Professor of Chemistry in the Military Academy at Woolwich24, - whilst two years ago, he was nominated, by Mr. Fuller, Fullerian Professor of chemistry in the Royal Institution25.
Long enrolled as a Member of almost all the Scientific Societies of the world, in 1831, the University of Oxford, did itself the honour, of conferring on him, an honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law26.
He has been in the Service of the Royal Institution 23 years; and for very many of them, he has toiled in the Laboratory from six in the morning till eleven or twelve, at night.
He lectures weekly, for about 3 or 4 months of the year in the Theatre of the Royal Institution - and 3 times a week during 8 months of the year, in the Laboratory. He attends all the Friday evening meetings held at the Institution, during the sitting of Parliament, and not infrequently lectures to the company there assembled.
When he first lectured - indeed till very lately - (if not till the present moment) he gave half a guinea to a professor of Elocution27, to attend every one of his lectures, in order that he might inform him of any errors he might commit during the delivery of his lectures.
His Chemical, Electro-Chemical, and Magneto-Electrical Discoveries, place him by the side of Davy and Wollaston - they have conferred Glory on his Country, and have secured for him an imperishable Name.
Humblest in early life, with any, much less a liberal education, he now reads and speaks French and Italian - has a tolerable knowledge of Latin and of Elementary Mathematics. His language is good - often eloquent - always clear, to misunderstand him, is almost impossible.
His Mother yet lives, and he supports her.
Applying his Chemical or other Scientific acquirements to the wants of art - or to the comforts of social life - and guided by the most inflexible integrity, there are few, very few departments of the Government of his Country, which have not reaped important benefits from his profound knowledge.
He has never sought or followed Science, guided by sordid motives.
The Secretaryship of the Royal Society with its hundred guineas a year was refused by him28, because the performance of its duties, would interfere with his original researches - whilst his salary of £100 a year granted him by the Admiralty as their Scientific Adviser, he has never claimed, because he has never been, as such, called upon to do his duty.
March 31 1835
BENCE JONES, Henry (1870a): The Life and Letters of Faraday, 1st edition, 2 volumes, London.
GLADSTONE, John Hall (1875): “Faraday's First Electrical Machine”, The Argonaut, 2: 33-5.
GRIMWADE, Arthur G. (1982): London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837: Their Marks and Lives, 2nd edition, London.
HALL, Marie Boas (1984): All Scientists Now: The Royal Society in the nineteenth century, Cambridge.
RAMSDEN, Charles (1987): London Bookbinders, 1780-1840, London.
Please cite as “Faraday0775,” in Ɛpsilon: The Michael Faraday Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/faraday/letters/Faraday0775