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Henry Baker: Author of the First Microscopy Laboratory Manual Henry Baker Henry Baker: played a big part in popularizing author of the microscope in the 18th century. the first Richard Burns, microscopy Henry’s ‘great x5’ grandson, describes laboratory the life and activities of his illustrious manual ancestor. Portrait of Henry Baker. A stipple engraving by William enry Baker (1698–1774) have been mistaken, let not vanity seduce seen in rain, ditch and pond water are relativity (‘Our ideas of matter, space, and 1000 copies of The Microscope Made Nutter published in 1812 and taken from an earlier was a typical 18th cen- you to persist in your mistake.’ illustrated and there are descriptions duration are meerly comparative’). Easy were printed and sold so rapidly oil painting by William Thomson. Baker was variously described as upright, benevolent, patient, homely, quietly tury polymath: natural This is Baker’s cautionary advice in of blood, muscles, bones and nerves, Towards the end of the book Baker that it was reprinted in April 1743. spoken – and short-sighted (not surprising given all historian, poet, translator The Microscope Made Easy published semen, the louse, fleas and spiders, compares the beauty of natural (bee Soon other microscopical studies were those hours looking down microscopes). The instrument of Molière, editor of a in November 1742. In setting out the and how to kill insects with tobacco sting, silkworm web) and man-made published, but this book had opened on the table in the background is one of John Cuff’s double microscopes. popular periodical and reasons for writing the book Baker oil and mercury. One chapter contains objects (lace, works of art). To him up the market. Hprolific correspondent. He was a co- berates previous users of the microscope a rag-bag of observations ranging the artefacts come a distant second: Eleven years later, in Employment for founder of the Royal Society of Arts for giving the impression that only from the behaviour of ants to snow- ‘Our finest miniature paintings appear the Microscope, Baker humbly advises and a Fellow of the Royal Society of those with skill and learning could flakes. All come (literally) under the before this instrument as meer dawbings, critical assessment of the book’s contents Antiquaries. Baker’s influence on the benefit from it. The only needs are ‘good microscope. plaistered on with a trowel, and entirely and further study, and declares that his development and popularization of glasses, good eyes, a little practice, and Baker refers frequently to the earlier void of beauty.’ target audience is wide (‘many of both the microscope was considerable and a common understanding, to distinguish discoveries of Hooke, Swammerdam, he wrote three books; the first, The what is seen; and a love of truth, to give a Leeuwenhoek and others. But he goes Microscope Made Easy, was a best seller. faithful account thereof.’ further and expresses his views on Left. Title page of The Microscope Made Easy (2nd edn, 1743). A total of six English editions were published from 1742 to 1785 as well as Dutch, French and German translations. In 1741 Baker was elected a Fellow Part I describes simple and compound many of the controversial issues of The book sold for 5 shillings (about £30 today) and Baker received the equivalent of of the Royal Society and played a microscopes and trumpets the qualities the day. For example, spontaneous approximately £5,000 for the first edition and half that for subsequent editions. prominent role in its activities for 30 of those made by his friend John Cuff. generation is dismissed (‘Nothing seems Right. The double reflecting microscope. This is described by Baker as an improvement years. The Bakerian Lecture was found- There is guidance on how to prepare now more contrary to reason … that dead on John Marshall’s turn of the century great double microscope made initially by Edmund ed as a result of a bequest in his will. specimens and how to calculate their corrupting matter, and blind uncertain Culpeper in the 1720s and then by Edward Scarlet in the late 1730s. The body is supported by three brass pillars mounted on a wooden base. There are five objective lenses that can be size. Part II is a beginner’s guide to chance, should create living animals.’), screwed to the nose piece (g). The brass plate (O) fits onto the fixed plate (L) and contains The Microscope Made Easy microscopy and laboratory manual. It but preformation gets the thumbs up holes to carry specimens; ivory discs are used as the background for dark coloured objects and ‘Assert nothing till after repeated experi- gives instructions on making infusions (‘The growth of animals and vegetables ebony discs for light coloured objects. Concave glasses retain liquids containing ‘animalcules’. ments and examinations, in all lights, and of pepper, hay, oats and wheat, and tells seems to be nothing else but the gradual The lens (V) is attached at W to direct candle light or sunlight down onto opaque objects. Y is a fish-plate in which the blood circulation in the tail of a fish could be observed. Glass tubes in all positions. Truth alone is the matter what to expect when these are studied unfolding and expansion of their vessels’). (1) are used to immobilize frogs, newts, etc., for observation. Insects are trapped in the glass that you are in search after; and if you under the microscope. ‘Animalcules’ There are even some thoughts about cell (2). 118 microbiology today aug 06 microbiology today aug 06 119 sexes who have not had the advantage of In 1740 Henry’s influential friends earlier, had cut up fresh water polyps (Hydra vulgaris) and In his will he left £500 to the Royal Society (in addition a learned education’). There is much elected him a Fellow of the Society found that the parts regrew to form entire animals. This to the Bakerian lecture bequest of £100), but most of his information on insects, polyps, rotifers, of Antiquaries and, the following year, news excited the scientific establishment, because of the considerable fortune went to his grandson, William. The nematodes and fungal spores as well to the Royal Society. His citation reads debate about the distinction between animals and plants Bakerian lecture (‘for an oration or discourse to be spoken or as detailed accounts of Baker’s own ‘A Gentleman well versed in Mathematicks (only plants grow from ‘cuttings’ but only animals move and read yearly by some one of the Fellows of the Society on such painstaking studies of inorganic and and Natural knowledge, particularly emin- eat worms), as well as the natural philosophers who were a part of natural history or experimental philosophy’) was organic salts and how these led him ent for his great Skill and happy Success puzzled as to how the ‘soul’ of the polyp was distributed first given in 1775. Early speakers included Cavallo, Davy to suggest mechanical improvements in teaching persons born deaf and con- among the progeny. Baker was amazed by what he saw as he and Faraday and many of the greatest scientists of the day, to the microscope. [The major optical sequently Dumb to Speak (having im- chopped the hydra into pieces. including Rutherford, Herschel, Fox Talbot, Maxwell and advance, the adoption of the achromatic proved upon that great Invention of the In the late 1740s Baker’s interests turned to electricity (the Hoyle, have delivered the lecture. lens to reduce distortion, came much late famous Dr Wallis) Author of a very hot topic of the day) and he reported experiments that were Would Henry Baker be remembered if not for the later.] In fact, crystals were Baker’s beautifull Poem called the Universe, with thought to show its beneficial medical qualities. eponymous lecture and footnotes in the many Daniel Defoe first scientific love (‘their variety and many Curious Notes regarding Natural biographies? There is no doubt that The Microscope Made beauty no words or language can possibly History, and one who hath communicated The friend and the cheat Easy was widely read not only by natural historians, but also express’) and for this he received the Some usefull papers to the Royal Society, Henry Baker’s most prolific correspondent was William writers, poets and thinkers of the day. Baker’s purpose in Copley gold medal, putting him on a being desirous to become a Member of the Arderon, an obsessive collector of objects and obscure facts writing the book was to popularize the use of the microscope list of 18th century ‘giants’: Franklin, Same, is recommended by us as a Can- who wrote about what he had seen and heard. In return Baker and instill in others a curiosity for objects previously invisible Priestley and Volta. didate well deserving that honour.’ The six kept his pen pal up to date with events at the Royal Society to the naked eye. These aims were achieved. Henry Baker proposers included the heavyweights and life in London, and describes his editing activities, of was once described as ‘a philosopher of little things’, which Romance, poetry and the Hans Sloane (President), Martin Folkes which two are noteworthy. can be interpreted in two ways: a man who thought deeply Royal Society (Sloane’s successor) and Cromwell In the mid 1740s, the surviving plates for Robert Hooke’s and wrote extensively about the minute objects he examined Baker’s lucrative ‘day job’ was as a Mortimer (Biological Secretary). classic Micrographia were cleaned and the missing ones under the microscope or one who spent his life collecting speech therapist and in 1724 he was Baker’s 80 plus communications to re-cut. Baker tells Arderon that he is: ‘overlooking the press and explaining essentially trivial observations.
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