Who was John Dalton?
Chemist. Formulator of Atomic Theory to explain
Chemical Reactions.
Date and Place of Birth:
6th September 1766, Eaglesfield, Cumbria, England.
Family Background:
Third of six children of a poor handloom weaver,
Joseph Dalton who was a strict Quaker.
Education:
Taught at a Quaker School by Elihu Robinson.
Chronology/Biography of John Dalton:
1785: Became principal
teacher of the Quaker School in Kendal, Cumbria.
1787: Began a series
of meteorological observations
1793: Became Tutor
in Natural Philosophy at the Manchester Academy (A Presbyterian
College). Wrote "Meteorological Observations and Essays"
which attracted little attention.
1794: Joined the
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society. Presented a paper
to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical society on Colour Blindness,
an affliction from which he suffered. This earliest description
became known as Daltonism.
1799: Earned his
living as a private tutor to give him more time to spend on his
private scientific interests. The Manchester Literary and Scientific
Society purchased a house at 36 George Street, Manchester where
Dalton was allowed to live and work. (The house and many of the
Society's records were destroyed in 1940 during the Blitz).
1803: First advanced
his idea of atomic theory which was based upon his study of the
physical properties of atmospheric gases. Discovered the law of
partial pressures of mixed gases which became known as Dalton's
Law.
1804: Delivered
a series of courses at the Royal Institution, in London.
1808: First published
his ideas in "A New System of Chemical Philosophy"
1819: Became President
of the Manchester Literary and Scientific Society.
1822: Made a Fellow
of the Royal Society
1826: Awarded the
Gold Medal of the Royal Society.
1830: Became one
of the eight Foreign Associates of the French Academy of Sciences.
1833: Granted a
Civil Pension of £150 which left him able to devote more time to
his studies. He was also in a position now to help with the building
of the Mount Street Meeting House in Manchester.
Written Works:
- 1793: "Meteorological
Observations and Essays".
- 1808: "New
System of Chemical Philosophy".
Marriage:
Never Married.
Places of Interest:
CUMBRIA:
Globe Hotel, Cockermouth.
MANCHESTER:
Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Mamchester,
M2 5NS.
Date and Place of Death:
27th July 1844, Manchester, England.
Age at Death:
77.
Site of Grave:
Mount Street Meeting House, Manchester.
