DOI: https://doi.org/10.36094/sc.v87.2021.Michael_Faraday_a_Universally.Talapatra.80 ARTICLE

MICHAEL FARADAY – A UNIVERSALLY ADMIRED SCIENTIFIC GENIUS# (22 September 1791 – 25 August 1867)

SUNIL KUMAR TALAPATRA*† AND BANI TALAPATRA*‡

ÚÚÓƒ_´ ˆ£yÑ˛ ˆì˛yõyõyˆÏG˛ x¢#ˆÏõÓ˚ !â˛Ó˚!Ófl˛øÎ˚ÛÛ Ó˚Ó#wòyÌ ‡˛yÑ%˛Ó˚ Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941, NL 1913) May the revelation of infinite eternal wonder be celebrated through you. (translated by the authors)

Michael Faraday (b. 22.09.1791 d. 25.08.1867) is a universally admired true experimental scientific genius, who loved to achieve dreams with indomitable spirit and absolute intellectual honesty. He was mostly a solitary worker who liked to work in isolation, and to nourish his natural bent for science, a worshipper of perfection, a man with exceptional simplicity and noble character, and one of the original thinkers of all time with an unbelievable brain capacity and an extraordinary dedication to science. He was very particular about time keeping – an essential quality for success. Even more than a century and half after his death Faraday remains a scientist of our time, as his rewarding contributions are directly related to the benefits of man and to our civilization. The present article offers briefly the life and work of this great master. In fact, he is greater than any idea one may form about him after reading his life and work. His life is fresh and inspiring forever and surprises everyone who knows him through his work. Professor Sir John Meurïg Thomas of the Royal Institution paid a genuinely befitting tribute to Faraday by commenting that, had the Nobel Prize been instituted during Faraday’s time (in early 19th century) Faraday would have won the same at least 6 times for his pioneering incredible discoveries and monumental work leaving an indelible mark in the scientific history.

Introduction discovered by Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) and Faraday, fter visiting Faraday’s basement laboratory in 1853 Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (1821-1894) 2 in the Faraday Museum of Royal Institution which wrote to his wife Olga the following lines : Acontains the iconic1 objects used and/or “… a few wires and some old bits of wood and iron seem to serve him for the greatest discoveries.” # This article is an inspirational gift to our grandchildren Ayush and Agneev. When Faraday’s mentor Sir Humphry Davy was asked * Former Professor and Head, Department of Chemistry, about his great discoveries, Davy gave a long list and at University of Calcutta. Res.: 201, Manicktala Main Road, the end he said, “However, my greatest discovery is Suite No.5, Kankurgachi, Kolkata 700054. email: [email protected] Michael Faraday.” Perhaps Davy who died of heart attack † President, Professor Asima Chatterjee Foundation Kolkata in 1829 spoke more truly than he knew. (PACFK). Advisor, Indian Chemical Society, Kolkata. Vice- President, Indian Science News Association, Kolkata. Michael was a miracle boy, an autodidact and one of ‡ Council Member, PACFK the brightest lights in the world of science. In the mind of

80 SCIENCE AND CULTURE, MARCH-APRIL, 2021 this boy intellectual gold was buried which demanded an to lead science as a guiding light. He bequeathed to outlet, and he was naturally learned. Modern ways of posterity a life of very rare comprehension, and the communication which include telegraph, radio, the facsimile practical consequences of his discoveries went straight to machine etc. owe their origin to Faraday’s concept of a human benefit and civilization. His life is an expression of field and his way of establishing the relationship between his powerful intellect, great personal integrity, courage, and light, electricity and magnetism. The latter seminal invention deep religious bent of mind. made Michael immortal. Family Background and Early Life4 He was an extraordinary man of great vision and competence. His creative spark, dedication to the principle Michael’s forefathers came from a very ordinary of self-help, and fertilization of his imagination turned the background and were poor. He grew up under grinding search light deep down into the fundamentals of science. poverty and uncertain condition, which taught him to find He was a torch-bearer to the grand illumination of science. out his own direction, to cope up with adversity and to figure out the essential lessons of life. Michael remembered When Jean Baptiste André Dumas (French Chemist, that he stayed for a whole week eating only a loaf of 1800-1884) delivered first Faraday Memorial Lecture on June bread. He was never ashamed of his poor upbringing. 17, 1869 in London Chemical Society, he said, “we admired When he was at the peak of his excellence and in full tide Davy but we loved Faraday.” and the fountain head of of fame, he used to visit the places and streets where he that love was the profound simplicity of the man that played marbles with his friends while babysitting his created a niche in the hearts of the people who knew him younger sister Margaret. All the sequences were tattooed and his highly esteemed work that are related to human in his memory. His modest way of living stayed with him benefit and illuminated science. Even Albert Einstein (1879- 1955, NL 1921 in Physics) was deeply influenced by throughout his life. Faraday. He said that there are two extraordinary pairs in From the birth register of a village called Clapham, the world of science whose works are not related to each near northwest of Yorkshire, it was known that a tile mason other, but their contributions in science are outstandingly called Richard Faraday used to live in that village. He had important in equal measures. Galileo Galilei3 (1564-1642/ ten children and according to the local register they were 1643 Italy) and Isaac Newton (1642-1727) form one such born between 1708 and 1730. Robert Faraday, the pair while in the other pair we have Max Karl Ernst Ludwig grandfather of Michael Faraday was born in 1724. He was Planck (1858-1947) and Michael Faraday. Einstein used to keep a portrait of Faraday in his study2. He believed that Faraday caused the greatest change in the theoretical concept of physics since Newton. There seems to be certain reasons as to why the life history of some great sons of the world should find a place in the study material of high school children. The great lives certainly serve as the source of inspiration during children’s formative years. Further, when humane value seems to be collapsing, it is reassuring to read about the life and work of great men, and retrace the history; their memories sustain us in grey climate and remain imprinted in the minds. Michael Faraday is a glorious example of such a man. In Faraday human soul and higher intelligence roll together. His life-tale inspires generations of readers as one comes to know how an errand little poor boy without proper schooling could become one of the greatest scientists of all time and a house-hold name. From an insignificant background he rose to universal acclaim as his remarkable talent drove him steadily along a road of unparalleled success. Perhaps he was programmed at birth Fig.1: Faraday and his wife Sarah

VOL. 87, NOS. 3–4 81 a blacksmith by profession. His relationship with Richard The following flow-sheet delineates Michael Faraday’s Faraday was little uncertain. According to some, Robert family tree.5 could be the son or nephew of Richard. Richard Faraday Robert got married to Elizabeth Dean who brought him some properties in connection with the marriage. She A stoneman and a tiler, village bore ten children and they faced financial crisis. Claphum-northwest of Yorkshire Consequently, they could not properly educate their ↓ children who were involved in physical labour. 10 children (b. between 1708 and 1730) Michael’s father James Faraday was born in 1761. Robert Faraday (b. 1724) Like his father, James was also a blacksmith. In 1786 he got married to a farmer’s daughter, Margaret Hastwell, a Married to Elizabeth Dean dweller of the village Mallestang. They had four children ↓ and Michael was the third one (vide infra family tree5). The name Michael was not common in his father’s side, 10 children [James Faraday (1761–1810 + 9 children)] while in his mother’s (Irish lineage) side the name Michael Married to Margaret Hastwell in 1786 (village Mallerstang) was quite common. During courtship James used to walk ↓ a long distance to meet Margaret. Perhaps Michael inherited his father’s pedestrian ability. They were a loving 4 children well-knit family. His mother stood as an emotional anchor | to Michael, which gave him strength and confidence in ↓↓ ↓ ↓ his later life. She died in 1838. Elizabeth Robert Michael Margaret In 1821 Faraday met Sarah Barnard in Sandemanian (b. 1787) (b. 1788) (b. 22 Sept., 1791) (b. 1802) Church, and he had a long happy married life with her. The contract was for seven years. In addition, he used to They lived in a simple manner comfortably but not do the job of a hawker for newspapers and magazines in luxuriously. Unlike Mrs Davy, Sarah always remained the streets and trains. A young boy with a tuft of curly modestly in the background of her husband. Michael’s hair was seen to deliver newspapers to some people who love for Sarah was unalloyed and deathless. They were could not afford to buy and got on loan for reading with issueless but were very fond of children, specially his smaller price. Michael used to collect the newspapers back nephews and nieces. He secretly donated his surplus fund from them when their reading was over. In his later life to the poor and to the church. whenever he met a newspaper boy he used to make kind In search of a job Michael’s father James came to remarks. He was fond of visiting the working places of Newington Butts, where in 1791 Michael was born on 22nd blacksmiths remembering that his father was a blacksmith. September. In this connection he said, “I love a Smith’s shop and anything related to smithery. My father was a smith.” He The business of Michael’s father was not running had never forgotten his early family professions. The job well and became a losing concern. He changed places in of an errand boy was the first step of his great life. search of luck, but to no avail. He then left the job of blacksmith and later died in October 1810 leaving the family He loved to read books that came for binding. He in great distress and poverty. Because of serious financial became more interested in the books on science and constraints the children hardly studied in school. However, became a voracious reader. He read Jane Marcet’s Michael and his brother Robert could attend preliminary ‘Conservations of Chemistry’ and scientific entries in schooling. ‘Encyclopaedia Britannica’ and was influenced. He was introduced to the world of books – the repository of human In 1804 when Michael was just thirteen year old, he knowledge. His deep scientific intuition and integrity of had to contribute to the family income. He got an his conduct are the two golden threads that twin together apprenticeship in a book binder’s shop owned by Mr. to lead to his great success. Since his young days he was George Riebau. He served as an errand boy for Mr. Riebau, so sincere that anybody he associated with loved him. who was also a book-seller. His shop was in Blandford Sincerity and honesty never go unnoticed. His deep Street, close to Michael’s home at Baker Street, also the immersion in studies proved to be pivotal in his future place of mythical or imaginary home of Sherlock Holmes. life.

82 SCIENCE AND CULTURE, MARCH-APRIL, 2021 Influence4 of Humphry Davy (1778-1829) at this proposal, since he had never travelled from London Mr. Riebau was much pleased with his work. Being a to places beyond 12 miles. The tour lasted for 18 months. considerate person he used to give him a shilling During the tour Michael used to write soul-illuminated occasionally required for listening to lectures on natural letters to his mother giving full description of the places philosophy. These lectures were known as shilling lectures. of his visit. In one such letter he gave a beautiful One customer of the book binding shop named Mr. William description of Venice. His mind and eyes were both Dance, one of the founders of the Royal Philharmonic appreciative of the beauties of Nature. Society, was very much fond of Michael. He arranged In this tour Faraday met the leading scientists of that opportunities for Michael to listen to Humphry Davy’s period. He visited Germany, Switzerland and Italy. In lectures at the Royal Institution, London. Davy was the Florence he visited Academy des Cincento where he saw central figure in science at that time. In 1807 Davy added the telescope that Galileo Galilei3, one of the greatest two new elements, sodium and potassium, to the existing intellectual figures in history, had used to discover (1610) list of elements. Michael listened to his lectures with apt the moon of Jupiter; he saw many other instruments of attention, ardent interest, and was utterly bewitched when great scientific importance. Thus, the foundation of his these lectures fell on his eager ears. Inspite of his greatest triumph in science was set. Faraday’s magnetic bewitchment, Michael took notes along with rough laboratory where he worked in 1854 has been preserved in diagrams, and later he wrote the entire lectures in an 1872 in the original form to illustrate the significant aspects organized way, sometimes with appropriate diagrams. He of his contributions. felt privileged to be amongst those of the academic circles Davy recommended Faraday’s work at the Royal attending the lectures. The dates of Davy’s lectures were Institution where Faraday spent rest of his career. Davy February 29, March 14, April 8 and April 10, 1812. Michael offered Faraday a job of a laboratory assistant with a sent those materials rewritten by him to Davy in a bound remuneration of 25 shillings a week with 2 rooms at the form. Being a book binder earlier he knew the art of book top of the house. Faraday laboured for endless hours binding quite well. These dates are important because the unceasingly throughout his job. Davy glorified the labours dates were the turning points of his life. of this mighty investigator. Faraday’s life ran like a golden thread of inspiration and service throughout the scientific history of mankind. Faraday showed by burning diamond that diamond was nothing but carbon. Faraday’s motto was “Try desperately to succeed but do not hope for success.” In answer to a young inquirer who asked Faraday what was the secret of his success, he replied6, “The secret is composed in three words –Work, Finish, and Publish”. To him work was a prayer, and science was the search for truth. Faraday studied science as an apprentice to a master who was a role model in his field and in his personal character.

Faraday’s unique nature, experiments and scientific contributions Fig.2: Faraday lecturing at the RI before the Prince of Wales Faraday’s honesty and lack of guile were both glory Davy’s mind was both penetrating and wide ranging, and handicap. His frankness made many enemies for him and hence he could readily identify Faraday’s brilliance including his mentor Davy who opposed his election to and realized his extremely promising potential of becoming the membership of the Royal Society but was ousted by an outstanding scientist. Davy during his Europe tour majority of members. Faraday was not eager to have (1813-1814) hired Michael as his assistant. Davy got personal fame, but he was focussed more on distant goals. married to a rich widow, Jane Apreece (1780-1855) in 1812. Faraday was an eloquent speaker. He specially The same year he was made knight. He took his wife on introduced a series of lectures to inspire the lay audience, the tour and wanted to take Faraday along with them as a young generation, and public understanding of science. helping hand. Faraday was excited and full of enthusiasm Consequently he attracted a considerable public as

VOL. 87, NOS. 3–4 83 audience. He lectured widely and delivered 19 such oil gas that was procured through the courtesy of Mr. lectures. The lectures, then known as ‘Christmas Lectures”, Gordon of a portable gas company. His discovery of continued for subsequent years when great scientists like benzene and many of its derivatives paved the way to the Carl Sagan and Ian Stewart participated. The Christmas establishment of the chemical, especially the dyestuffs, and lecture is still continued and televised to entertain greater pharmaceutical industries. He prepared or properly audience and to communicate British excellence in science. identified several important organic compounds like Common people participated in the arena, formerly reserved hexachlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene, isobutylene for the scientific world. His first lecture was based on his isomers of alkenes, isomers of naphthalene sulfonic acids experiment and explanation on the burning of a candle7,8 and first performed photochemical reactions. given to school children who assembled in the theatre With the discovery of benzene, considered to be the hall of the Royal Institution and it was in December, 1826 greatest contribution in organic chemistry, a new horizon and it attained a proverbial status. To him belief was no of aromatic chemistry opened up: important concept of substitute for proof. resonance, non-isolable benzyne etc., which enriched In 1859-60 he gave the Christmas lectures on various chemistry – specially the organic chemistry. After nearly forces. The lectures were published in two series. The hundred years, Kathleen Lonsdale (née Yardley, 1903-1971) purpose for choosing the burning of candle experiment demonstrated for the first time with her x-ray machine that was mentioned by Faraday at the beginning during benzene ring was hexagonal and planar. Pertinently, she Christmas. The contents were as follows: 1) How do was the first woman to be elected a Fellow of the Royal candles work? 2) What is the theory of burning? 3) What Society (1945). Later she established the Crystallography does a candle produce when it is burning? 4) What does Department in the University of London. a candle need if it is to keep burning? 5) Why do candle Faraday sometimes accompanied his brother Robert flames burn brightly? 6) Where does the candle burn the who used to light the street lamps. Faraday studied the hottest? oils used for lighting and heating. While studying the He discovered benzene9 in 1825 by repeated explosive properties of air and methane mixture, Davy fractionation of the fluid obtained during compression of invented miner’s safety lamp and in a paper published in 1818 he acknowledged the able assistance of Faraday in experimentation. In 1826, Faraday arrived at the correct empirical

formula for rubber (C5H8)n, a polyunsaturated polymer of pentadiene10. This is a very important discovery since

(C5H8)n has been proved to be the biogenetic precursor of two very important classes of plant natural products11 called terpenoids and steroids, and gave the idea of the ‘Isoprene Rule’. The concept of prochirality is also an important outcome of his studies. He discovered the phenomenon of electrolysis and coined the terms (vocabularies) – electrode, electrolyte, cathode and anode, as well as paramagnetic and diamagnetic – the latter words during the portrayal of the magnetic properties of matter.

The Laws12 of Faraday In 1832 and 1833 Faraday formulated two laws of electrolysis based on his observation on the decomposition of the molten metal compounds into ions when current was passed through it with the help of electrodes. These phenomena have immense impact commercially (1840 onwards). The first law states that the amount of material Fig.3: Faraday working in his basement lab. Harriet Moore watercolour, 1852 deposited (or liberated) on the electrodes is directly

84 SCIENCE AND CULTURE, MARCH-APRIL, 2021 + – → proportional to the total amount of electric charge H + e H´ (reduction at the cathode); H´ + H´ → H (determined by current and time of passage) which passes 2 through the electrolytic solution. The second law of HO 2H 1O2 electrolysis states that when the same amount of electric 2 charge flows through different electrolytic cells, the O2– → O´ + 2e– (at the anode oxidation); amounts of substances deposited (or liberated) are in direct → O´ + O´ O2 gas proportion of their equivalent weights. Mullikan (1868-1953) In 1831 Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry showed that the value of a single electronic charge is discovered electromagnetic induction and based on this 1.602´10-19 C (Coulomb). The charge of one mole of discovery the transformer, dynamo and electric motor were electrons has the value 96500 coulomb which is termed as invented. He was never after money or wealth and personal 1 Faraday. Thus the passage of 96500 Coulomb (1 fame, and he never patented his discoveries. He wanted ÷ -19 Faraday) means the passage of 96,500 1.602´10 = 6.02 the people to enjoy the benefits of his discoveries and 23 × 10 electrons from cathode to anode. This leads to the was focused more on the distant goals. important conclusion that a gram-atomic weight of an element contains 6.02 × 1023 atoms. He also liquefied chlorine (1823) accidentally and defined the critical temperature and pressure for a gas at which that particular gas could be liquefied. This is indeed a very important finding. In 1845 he made another important discovery – the Faraday effect – the rotation of the plane of polarization of light by a magnetic field, which laid the foundation of magneto-optics and of all modern modes of electronic and optical communication.

In 1833, Faraday observed the formation of CO2 and a hydrocarbon at the platinum anode during the electrolysis of potassium ethanoate solution13. He was very surprised to find the hydrocarbon, and he considered it to be the secondary product of reduction of the acetate ion.

 Fig.4: Faraday (old age) and his signature 2 CH32 CO 2 CO 2 CH 3 CH 3 2e

The number 6.02 × 1023 is known as Avogadro’s In general, from any acetate, number. Thus, one Faraday produces one mole of silver  2 CH32 CO 2 CO 2 CH 3 CH 3 2e at the cathode from a silver salt (e.g. AgNO3) solution containing Ag+ ions. Two Faradays are required to produce However, during 1848-1850 Hermann Kolbe studied a mole of lead (Pb) at the cathode from a solution of Pb this reaction in more detail and reported the formation of 2+ salt (e.g. PbNO3) containing Pb ions. Likewise, 2 the hydrocarbon from the discharged anion through loss Faradays are required to produce a mole of chlorine of CO2 from the fatty acid, followed by the dimerization of – gas (Cl2) by electrolysis of BaCl2 solution containing Cl the radical. The reaction has been named as Kolbe ions. reaction. At the Pt anode the current density and hence the concentration of the radicals is high. 2 BaCl2  Ba 2 Cl  e  2 Cl– → 2 Cl´ + 2e– (oxidation at the anode) 2CHCO32 CHCO 32 CH 3 CO 2 → 2 Cl´ Cl2 gas. 2CH  C H Similarly, 2 Faradays are required to liberate 1 mole 326 of oxygen gas (O2) at the anode. Thus Faraday found For the overabundance of talents of Faraday, as that the volume of oxygen gas liberated at the anode is reflected in a number of his accomplished major half of the volume of hydrogen (H2) gas liberated at the breakthroughs, Sir John Meurig Thomas of the Royal cathode by the passage of a particular current for a fixed Institution wrote14 that had there been Nobel Prizes during time through a solution of nitric acid. Faraday’s time, he could have won the same at least 6

VOL. 87, NOS. 3–4 85 times due to his pioneering, incredible and monumental Faraday wanted to remain simply Mr. works, leaving an indelible mark in the scientific world, Faraday greatly enlarging the knowledge and leading to tremendous He was never after fame, but fame chased him and benefit to the mankind. He could have won Nobel Prize showered lavishly upon him. He was made the President at least 3 times in Chemical Sciences, namely, for of the Royal Society twice but he declined the same each electrochemistry and laws of electrolysis; discovery or time. He was knighted by her majesty the Queen, but he proper identification of benzene and about a dozen of declined that too. He also declined the post of the First organic compounds as an organic chemist; heterogeneous Professorship in Chemistry at the University College, catalysis, surface reactions, adsorption etc. – and at least London. However, he accepted the lectureship at the 3 times in physical sciences, namely, for light, Military Academy where he had to deliver only a few electromagnetic induction; magnetism, Faraday effect and the notion of a field (lines of forces); plasma physics lectures and thus this assignment would not encroach on (discharge of electricity through evacuated gases); gravity his research time. He wanted to remain simply Mr. Faraday. and electricity etc. No one can ever fill the scientific shoes Table 2. Faraday’s principal contributions to physical of Michael Faraday. science His prodigious scientific contributions involving the 1821 Electromagnetic rotations. astonishing range of his experimental accomplishments14 may be evident from Tables 1 and 2. 1831 Electromagnetic induction. Acoustic vibrations. 1832 Identity of electricity from various sources. Table 1. Faraday’s principal contributions to chemical 1833 Electrolytic decompositions. science 1835 Discharge of electricity through evacuated gases. 1816 (With Davy) Evolution of miners’ safety lamp. (Plasma physics and chemistry). 1818-24 Preparation and properties of alloy steels (study 1836 Electrostatics. Faraday cage. of Indian Wootz). Metallography. 1845 Relationship between light, electricity and magnetism; 1812-30 Analytical chemistry. Determination of purity and diamagnetism; paramagnetism. composition of clays, native lime, water, gunpowder, rust, dried fish, various gases, liquids 1846 ‘Thoughts on ray vibrations.’ and solids. 1849 Gravity and electricity. 1820-26 Organic chemistry. Discovery of benzene, 1857 Time and magnetism. isobutylene, tetrachloroethylene, hexachloro- benzene, isomers of alkenes and of naphthalene 1862 Influence of a magnetic field on the spectral lines of sulphonic acids (α- and β-), vulcanisation of rubber. sodium. Lines of force and the concept of a field. Photochemical preparations. The energy of a magnet lies outside its perimeter. The notion that light and magnetism and electricity 1825-31 Improvements in the production of optical grade are interconnected. glass.

1823, 1845 Liquefaction of gases (H2S, SO2 and six other gases). In 1833 he was made Fullerian Professor of Chemistry Recognised existence of critical temperature and at the Royal Institution – a singular honour. Fullerian confirmed the reality of continuity of the state. Professorship of Chemistry was endowed in 1833 by John 1833-36 Electrochemistry and the electrical properties of matter. Laws of electrolysis. Equivalence of voltaic, Fuller (1757-1834), an M.P. for South Hampton and a static, thermal and animal electricity. First example wealthy Sussex ironmaster. Faraday was a lifelong friend of thermistor action. Fused salt electrolytes; of Joseph William Mallord Turner (1775-1851), the founder superionic conductors. of Romantic Landscape Paintings. The different beautiful 1834 Heterogeneous catalysis: Poisoning and inhibition colours of the sky manifesting the richness of the climate of surface reactions. Selective adsorption; wettability of solids. were painted by Turner with masterfulness, and Michael 1835 ‘Plasma’ chemistry (discharge of electricity through was especially very fond of the masterful symphony of gases). colours of Turner’s sky15. He loved to listen to opera and 1836 Dielectric constant, permittivity. enjoyed the same with Sarah, but always used the cheaper 1845-50 Magneto-chemistry and the magnetic properties seats. of matter. Magneto-optics. Faraday effect. Michael Faraday does not belong to a single nation Diamagnetism. Paramagnetism. Anisotropy. or a country. He belongs to the whole world. He is one of 1857 Colloidal metals. Scattering of light. Sols and hydrogels. the ablest men in science in history with prophetic vision,

86 SCIENCE AND CULTURE, MARCH-APRIL, 2021 favourite armchair and died peacefully at the age of 76 in his home in Hampton Court given to him by Queen Victoria, and that silenced one of the most learned voices of the century. At the deathbed Faraday, in reply to a friend’s question, told that he had no speculation. He further said that he thanked God who persuaded him to stick to certainties and not to rest his dying head upon speculation.

Faraday’s memorial service According to Faraday’s wish he was buried in Highgate Cemetery close to London, a city of his love and where he stayed and worked hard almost all through his life. The epitaph bears the following simple inscription: MICHAEL FARADAY (Born 22 September, 1791 Died 25 August, 1867) We are quoting Dumas once again “We admired Davy but we loved Faraday;” and also the following befitting tributes17, 18 to Faraday: “His life was gentle, and the elements Fig.5: A leaflet of Westminster Abby So mixed in him that Nature might stand and we offer our respectful salutation to him and And say to the entire world ‘This was a man’.” appreciate deeply the symphony of soul and genuineness of this man. and “Oh, Mr. Faraday, simple Mr. Faraday! A 16-line (4-para) beautiful anonymous poem was published16 shortly after the death of Michael Faraday. Did you of enlightenment consider this an age? Gradually his health deteriorated and his memory was Bless your simplicity, deep in electricity receding. On 25th August, 1867 he remained seated in his But, in social matters, unsophisticated sage!” Punch (1853) His memorial was laid by the side of Newton’s. The present authors composed the following 14-line poem as a tribute to this great master: “Great, greater, and one of the greatests, the last one in science is for you. Like the dazzling sun you always appear in our scientific view. You gave us so much of fundamentals in Physics and Chemistry. Solved the problems and deciphered the deep- seated mystery. Your intuitive understanding of the subject and prodigious contributions Fig. 6: Theo James presenting a bouquet to HM the Queen Elizabeth on the occasion of her Faraday’s Bicentenary visit, 7 December In modern communications 1999

VOL. 87, NOS. 3–4 87 Led the science to a path of great success, Professor Roger Parsons, FRS President of the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry. And let its benefit be available to our access. All kneel or sit for the prayer of thanksgiving We love you and adore you as a human being, arranged by the Royal Institution in association with the And we worship you as we take shelter under your Royal Society, led by the Reverend John Polkinghorne, scientific wing. FRS, President of Queens College, Cambridge. ….. You remained as our inspiration since our young For the life of Michael Faraday, his humble faith, deep days, scientific intuition and the integrity of his conduct: Lord Your laws of electrolysis are read by generations of All we praise your name. of girls and boys. The Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Faraday the genius, you are a precious gift of God Chemistry, previously known as Faraday Society, was to us, founded in 1903 to promote the study of sciences lying between Chemistry, Physics and Biology. The Society takes We respectfully bow to you to pay our homage reasonable care in the publication. and regards.” Some invaluable documents of Faraday Celebration of 200 years of Faraday19 A xerox copy of the title page of his book entitled During the celebration of 200 years of Michael ‘Chemical Manipulation’ which showed his vast Faraday, five learned Societies moved to the memorial to Michael Faraday and the then Dean said,”We have come to celebrate the birth two hundred years ago of the son of a blacksmith who was to become one of the experimental philosophers of all time. We come to thank God for Michael Faraday’s manifold gifts: the simplicity of his genius and luminous intelligence; his power of communicating truth, not least to children; his generosity, his humility and his faith. …... In gratitude for his life and his work we now lay our wreaths at the memorial of this great and good man.” A volume of Faraday’s Diary of Experiments carried by Dr. David a Jones F Eng FIEE, President Institute of Electrical Engineers, Faradays Electro Magnetic Induction Ring carried by Professor Roger Parsons, FRS, President Faraday Division of Royal Society of Chemistry, Faraday’s copy of Bible carried by Mrs. Irena M. McCabe, M.Sc., Librarian and Archivist, Royal Institution. All remain standing for the laying of wreaths at the memorial stone by Sir Michael Atiyah, President of the Royal Society (PRS), Professor Peter Day, FRS, Director-Elect of the Royal Institution. Dr. David A Jones, F Eng FIEE, President of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, Professor Roger Blin-Stoyle, FRS, President of the Institution of Physics, and Fig.7: Handwriting of Faraday on the title page of the book

88 SCIENCE AND CULTURE, MARCH-APRIL, 2021 events organised by the Royal Institution, dedicated to the public understanding of science and to communicating science and the excitement of the scientific research to the public. Together, the Royal Institution and the DFRL provide a round the clock scientific experience, where 21st century technologies meet with 200 years of traditions and scientific excellence.” The merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, The Faraday Society, and the Society of Analytical Chemistry took place by 1980 to form the Royal Society of Chemistry20 at the Burlington House, London. British Government released a £20 Bank of England note with a picture of Faraday in honour and veneration of the man and his work and to introduce him to the general public. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that two mountain peaks, one (1485 m) in New Zealand, and the other (>914 m) in Queensland, Australia, have been named Mount Faraday.

Some invaluable pictures Some pictures are provided to exhibit DFRL20 and some of Michael Faraday. The Research Laboratory was established in 1896 as an integral part of the Royal Institution, which dates back to 1799. It is the largest operating uninterrupted scientific research laboratory in the world. Fourteen Nobel prizes have been awarded for works carried out here. In this famous laboratory 10 elements have been discovered; thus, it has a scientifically glorious past.21 Faraday made his principle contributions to chemical science (Table 1) and to physical science Fig. 8: Statue of Faraday at the Royal Society (earlier DFRL) (Table 2), working in his basement laboratory in the Royal Institution, where he invented the world’s first electric knowledge in chemistry, published by Applied Science generator and transformer that led to the worldwide Publishers Ltd, London, 1827, showing the handwriting utilisation of electricity. The laboratory bears his unique of this great master is given here. This xerox copy was signature even after his death more than two centuries made by the authors from the book available in the library ago, and during his lifetime it remained as his spiritual of IIT Bombay, India, while the authors did library work home. Many interesting historical facts about the Royal for writing this article. In fact, only a very few copies of Institution, Michael Faraday and his life and work in brief this book are available in some private collections and are available in the booklet titled ‘Faraday in 90 minutes’.22 libraries in the world, and IIT Bombay library is one such library. Acknowledgements We are quoting the following paragraph from a leaflet We express our grateful thanks to the Royal Society on Davy-Faraday Research Laboratory (DFRL) published of Chemistry, London for providing us the following by the Royal Institution (now formally affiliated to documents: the booklets ‘The Royal Institution of Great University College London) on the occasion of the Britain an introduction’, ‘Guides to the Royal Institution bicentenary of the birth of Michael Faraday in 1991. of Great Britain: 1 History’ by Frank A.J.L. James’, ‘Guides “The list of scientific activities undertaken at the to the Royal Institution of Great Britain: 2 The Site and DFRL is closely interconnected and complemented by the the Buildings’ by H.J.V. Tyrrell; leaflets on ‘Westminster

VOL. 87, NOS. 3–4 89 3. Pan Reference Books, A Dictionary of Famous Quotations,compiled by Rabin Hyman,Revised Edition, Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay (The Chaucer Press Ltd. Bungay, Suffolk, 1973), Reprinted 1974, 1976. 4. J. Kendall, ‘Michael Faraday: Man of Simplicity’ (Faber and Faber, London, 1954). 5. Ibid 4, Family tree compiled. 6. R.H. Cragg, ‘The Chemistry of Michael Faraday 1791 – 1867’, Chemistry in Britain, vol. 3, no. 11, 481-486, (1967). 7. M. Faraday, ‘The Chemical History of Candle’(The Royal Institution Lectures: London, UK, 1860). 8. M. Faraday, ‘The Chemical History of the Candle’ (Griffin Fig.9: £20 Bank of England Note with Faraday’s signature Bohn and Company, London, 1861). 9. M. Faraday, Phil. Trans. Soc., London, 1, 40 (1825). Abbey’ and on ‘Architecture of Old and New Burlington 10. M. Faraday, Quart. J. Sci., 21, 19 (1826). House and History of the Royal Society of Chemistry at 11. S.K. Talapatra and B. Talapatra, ‘Chemistry of Plant Natural Burlington House’. We are thankful and indebted to the Products: Stereochemistry, Conformation, Synthesis, Biology, library staffs of the University of California Berkeley, Indian and Medicine’ (Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2015, 2 Institute of Technology Bombay, and the University of vols., pp. 1180 + LXIII). Calcutta for providing us the library facilities. Grateful 12. G. Gamow and J.M. Cleveland, ‘Physics: Foundations and Frontiers’(Prentice-Hall of India, Third Edition, 1976; thanks are also due to our friends Mr. Harry Ridge Prentice-Hall, N.J., USA, First Edition, 1963). (Sheffield), Professor Anil K. Singh (IIT Bombay), and Mr. 13. N.J. Selly, ‘Experimental Approach to Electrochemistry’ Amar Chand De (Sarat Book House, Kolkata) for their kind (Edward Arnold, 1977) p.130. help in various ways. Finally, we express our affectionate 14. ‘Talking Points – In Praise of Michael Faraday’, Editorial appreciation to our son Anupam (San Jose, California) for in Chemistry in Britain, 765-766 (1991). his help in California, and to our daughter Sharmistha for 15. E. Newton, ‘The Arts of Man’ (New York Graphic Society, Greenwich, Connecticut, 1960), p. 213. taking the photos from the documents and transferring 16. Ref. 4, p. 189. them to the Inbox of my PC. 17. Ref. 4, p. 13. We conclude by saying that our project on Michael 18. Ref.4, p. 190. Faraday was started more than 10 years back, and was 19. A leaflet entitled ‘Westminster Abbey: Service of based on our own personal interest and was not financed Thanksgiving to celebrate the Bicentenary of the Birth of Michael Faraday, Friday, 20 September, 1991, Royal by any funding organisation.  Institution, London’. 20. A leaflet entitled ‘Architecture of Old and New Burlington References and Notes House and History of the Royal Society of Chemistry at Burlington House’. 1. The word icon comes from the Greek word eikon meaning representation. 21. A leaflet entitled ‘Davy Faraday Research Laboratory’, available at the Royal Institution, London. 2. F. James, The Royal Institution’s Faraday Museum, appearing at the top of a 5-page document available from 22. John and Mary Gribbin, ‘Faraday in 90 minutes’ (Universities the reception of the museum. Press (India) Limited, Hyderabad, 1997).

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