Tagged with Science
Resource : Jeremy Bentham’s papers digitised online
June 13, 2018 - Richard Moss
The central collection of the papers of Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), the English philosopher whose ideas influenced prison reform, religion, poor relief, international law and even animal welfare during the Age of Revolution and beyond, have now been completely digitised.
Resource : Cooke and Wheatstone 5-needle telegraph
In the early 1800s, sending a message over any distance was long-winded. Even with the development of the postal service, messages, letters and important instructions carried on horseback by coach, ships and early railroads could take days – even weeks to reach their destination. A far cry from today’s world of instant messaging and increasingly sophisticated communication technologies – all at the touch of a button. The invention of the electric telegraph transformed world communications. It also marked the first practical use of electricity.
Resource : Davy lamp
The humble miner’s safety lamp is, arguably, one of the most important inventions of the 1800s. The industrial revolution saw coal overtake wood as the most important fuel source for new industries and cities, with an ever increasing demand driving production and placing pressure on safe and efficient extraction. A lamp that could light the way, without causing a disastrous explosion, was as essential a piece of a miner’s kit as a pick-axe.
Resource : Jacquard Loom
Before the 1800s, complex woven designs were created by hand. This was very labour-intensive. As a result, patterned fabric was extremely expensive. In 1804 Joseph-Marie Jacquard (1752 – 1834) developed the Jacquard Loom, which mechanised the production of patterned textiles. The loom contributed to the transformation of textile weaving from a ‘cottage industry’ run by close-knit families of skilled workers, to a focus of mass production on an industrial scale.
Resource : Faraday’s Electric Generator
This simple-looking and basic device, built by Michael Faraday in 1831, revolutionised almost every aspect of the lives of people all over the world. It is the first ever generator of electricity.
Resource : Difference Engine No.1 or ‘The Gem of all Mechanisms’
The Difference Engine aimed to mechanise the process of calculation. Composed of thousands of cogs, springs, brackets and other moving parts, it was designed to perform a multitude of calculations, as opposed to a single sum, surpassing anything that had gone before it. It was designed by Charles Babbage (1791-1871), who dreamed of creating an automatic, error-free, calculating machine. A machine, which today, would be recognised as a computer.
Resource : Boulton, Watt and Murdoch: ‘The Golden Boys of Birmingham’
This gilded bronze statue, known as the ‘Golden Boys’ (and also the ‘Carpet Salesmen’!) honours Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch. They are shown studying steam engine plans. Together these three revolutionised the steam engine – the technology that would literally drive the industrial revolution.
Resource : Model of HM Bark Endeavour
In the late 1700s Captain James Cook (1729 – 1779) led three now legendary voyages to explore the Pacific Ocean in ships named Endeavour, Resolution, Adventure and Discovery. To people living in Britain at the time, the Pacific was as mysterious and unreachable as outer space is to ordinary people today. With his crew Cook voyaged further south than any European before him and brought back new knowledge to Britain of the seas, lands, peoples, plants and animals they encountered. The three voyages transformed knowledge and understanding among Europeans about the wider world and its people.
Resource : Steam Whistle
The steam engine was one of the most important technologies of the industrial revolution. But it could be dangerous. The invention of the steam whistle made steam power much safer, saving countless lives as steam technology developed and grew through the 1800s.