NAME Michael Faraday The correct pronunciation of his name is documented as "FAIR-uh-day" or "FAIR-uh-dee".
WHAT FAMOUS FOR Michael Faraday is famous for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. It was largely due to his efforts that electricity was transformed from a scientific curiosity into a practical technology with widespread applications.
BIRTH Michael Faraday was born on 22 September 1791 in Newington Butts, Surrey, England.
FAMILY BACKGROUND Faraday was born into poverty as the son of a blacksmith named James Faraday who had migrated from the north of England in 1791 seeking work. His mother was a country woman described as having "great calm and wisdom" who provided crucial emotional support during his difficult childhood.
The family belonged to a small Christian sect called the Sandemanians, which provided spiritual sustenance to Faraday throughout his life.
As one of four children in the family, all struggled to get enough to eat, particularly since his father was often ill and unable to work consistently. (1)
CHILDHOOD Michael Faraday's childhood was marked by financial hardship, with him later recalling being given just one loaf of bread that had to last an entire week. Despite the poverty his family experienced, young Faraday displayed an extraordinary curiosity about the world around him, constantly questioning everything and displaying an urgent need to know more. This natural inquisitiveness and thirst for knowledge would prove to be the foundation for his later scientific achievements, even without the advantage of formal education that his contemporaries enjoyed.
EDUCATION Faraday received remarkably little formal education, a fact that makes his later scientific achievements even more impressive. At the age of 14, he was apprenticed to a local bookbinder and bookseller named George Ribeau, where he would spend the next seven years. During this apprenticeship, Faraday took full advantage of the books brought in for binding, educating himself by reading extensively on a wide range of scientific subjects. He was particularly influenced by the article on electricity in the third edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica (1797) and Jane Marcet's book Conversations on Chemistry.
After reading about electricity, he built his own simple electrostatic generator using lumber and old bottles, and constructed a weak voltaic pile.
His self-education continued through attendance at the City Philosophical Society, where he heard scientific lectures and participated in intellectual debates.
CAREER RECORD 1813: Appointed Chemical Assistant in the laboratory at the Royal Institution, thanks to Humphry Davy.
1821: Superintendent of the House at the Royal Institution.
1825: Director of the Laboratory at the Royal Institution.
1833: Became the first Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution, a position created specifically for him.
Throughout his career, he remained at the Royal Institution, where he conducted experiments, delivered lectures, and published his findings until his death in 1867.
APPEARANCE Faraday had a broad forehead and an elongated, narrow face. He had voluminous, rich hair combed with a middle part. His face was framed by long sideburns or bushy side whiskers extending along his cheeks near the jawline. He possessed bushy eyebrows over small eyes, an elongated nose with a pointed tip and convex nostrils, thin stretched lips, and a square chin. (2)
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| Portrait of Michael Faraday by Thomas Phillips, 1842 |
FASHION Faraday typically dressed in the formal attire of Victorian gentlemen. He wore a vintage suit consisting of a jacket and shirt with a high collar, closed with buttons on the chest. At the base of his neck, he wore a bow tie made from a scarf wrapped around the collar. His shirts often featured a dotted texture, while his jacket displayed a grid pattern. (2)
CHARACTER He was known for his meticulousness in his experiments and his clear, logical thinking.
His character was deeply influenced by his Sandemanian faith, which encouraged humility and service to others. Faraday believed that the laws of nature were fashioned by God's providence to improve human life, and that science should be used for the common good rather than personal gain.
Despite his fame, Faraday remained humble throughout his life, rejecting civil honors as he believed they were tainted by association with party politics rather than being awarded solely on merit. He eschewed power and personal fortune, remaining "plain Mr. Faraday" and a dedicated servant of the Royal Institution.
Faraday actively practiced Biblical precepts, praying with and supporting both spiritually and materially the poor members of his religious community. (3)
He wasn't a great socialiser, preferring to spend his time at his lab or at home with his wife.
Faraday had a bad memory, especially after suffering a nervous breakdown. He was so anxious about his lapses that he kept meticulous records of all he heard and did. (4)
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| Faraday delivering a Christmas Lecture to the general public at the Royal Institution in 1856 |
SENSE OF HUMOUR Faraday was said to possess a quiet wit and a gentle sense of humor.
RELATIONSHIPS Michael Faraday married Sarah Barnard, the daughter of a Sandemanian elder and silversmith on June 12, 1821 in the Parish of St Faith Under St Paul, City of London. Both Michael and Sarah were members of the Sandemanian Church, and their union was part of a tradition of marriages within this religious community.
Faraday was devoted to his wife and their marriage lasted for 46 years, but they didn't have any children.
Faraday's professional relationships were marked by both mentorship and occasionally challenging dynamics. His relationship with his early mentor Sir Humphry Davy was complex - Davy initially supported Faraday but later showed signs of jealousy as Faraday's fame grew. During their 18-month European tour, Faraday sometimes had to serve as a personal valet to Lady Davy, which was likely a humbling experience.
His correspondence with other scientists, such as James Clerk Maxwell, reveals mutual respect and intellectual engagement. In a letter to Maxwell, Faraday expressed gratitude for Maxwell's insights, writing: "Your letter is to me the first intercommunication on the subject with one of your mode & habit of thinking. It will do me much good; and I shall read and meditate on it again & again". (5)
MONEY AND FAME Despite achieving international recognition for his scientific work, Faraday maintained a modest lifestyle that reflected his religious beliefs. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society and received numerous prestigious awards including the Royal, Copley, and Rumford medals. However, consistent with his Sandemanian faith, which emphasized Matthew 6:19 ("Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth"), Faraday rejected all civil honors offered by Britain. Below shows three Fellows of the Royal Society offering the presidency to Faraday (right) in 1857.
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| By https://wellcomeimages.org |
Faraday believed such honors were tainted by association with party politics rather than being awarded purely on merit. Throughout his career, he remained "plain Mr. Faraday," eschewing power and personal fortune while serving the Royal Institution faithfully. His views on wealth were clear: while scientists and engineers deserved moderate rewards for applying their skills, they should not become rich through science, as he believed this would corrupt the scientific enterprise. This stance against materialism marked a sharp contrast to the growing capitalist spirit of Victorian England. (3)
FOOD AND DRINK: Faraday recalled being given just one loaf of bread that had to last him an entire week when he was 10, highlighting the poverty he experienced growing up.
In a class-based society, Faraday was not considered a gentleman; it has been said that Davy's wife, Jane Apreece refused to treat him as an equal and, when on a continental tour, made Faraday eat dinner in the kitchen with the other servants rather than with the main guests at a dinner in Genoa,
MUSIC AND ARTS Michael Faraday was deeply committed to making science accessible to the wider public. In the mid-1820s, recognizing both the need for public engagement and the financial struggles of the Royal Institution, he founded the Friday Evening Discourses at the Royal Institution in 1826. These events were designed as informal, approachable gatherings where members could bring friends and everyone would feel at ease, free from the rigid formalities that often characterized scientific meetings at the time. Faraday described them as “agreeable – easy – meeting[s]” and envisioned them as social occasions, often followed by tea and conversation in the library, sometimes lasting until late in the evening.
Faraday was a pioneer of what we now call “audience-centred science communication.” He was acutely aware of how his lectures were received and took practical steps to ensure his presentations were clear and engaging. Notably, he would plant friends in his audiences to give him discreet signals if he was speaking too quickly, too slowly, or for too long, allowing him to adjust his delivery in real time. This attention to audience feedback and his use of conversational, interactive styles were inspired in part by popular science communicators like Jane Marcet and rhetorical coaching from contemporaries such as Smart.
The Discourses became highly popular, attracting eminent speakers and large audiences, and were even described by George Eliot as “as fashionable an amusement as the Opera”. Faraday also worked to ensure that the knowledge shared in these lectures reached beyond the Royal Institution’s walls, cultivating relationships with newspaper editors and persuading figures like Charles Dickens to report on the events, thereby extending their impact to the broader public.
In 1848, Faraday delivered a famous series of six lectures at the Royal Institution titled The Chemical History of a Candle as part of his renowned Christmas Lectures for young people-a tradition he began in 1825 and which continues to this day. These lectures used the burning candle as a starting point to explore fundamental concepts in chemistry and physics, including combustion, the nature of gases, the composition of air and water, and the chemical processes at work in flames.
LITERATURE Faraday was an avid reader, particularly during his time as a bookbinder's apprentice. He read widely on scientific subjects, which fueled his interest in the field..
Faraday was a prolific writer who documented his scientific discoveries in clear, accessible language. In 1827, he published Chemical Manipulation, which demonstrated his mastery of the technical aspects of chemistry. His most significant literary contribution was the series "Experimental Researches on Electricity," published over forty years in the Royal Society's journal Philosophical Transactions. These papers documented his groundbreaking discoveries and established his scientific legacy.
Faraday consulted the classics scholar and scientist William Whewell when he needed new terms to describe phenomena in electrolysis. Faraday sought Whewell’s advice specifically for coining precise and philologically accurate words using Greek or Latin roots. Whewell suggested the terms "anode" and "cathode" for the electrodes, and also recommended the term "ion" for the charged particles moving during electrolysis. Faraday adopted these terms, expressing gratitude for Whewell’s assistance and noting how the authority of Whewell’s scholarship helped overcome objections from others to the new nomenclature (6)
NATURE Faraday had a deep appreciation for the natural world, which he saw as interconnected with his religious beliefs about the unity of God and nature.
HOBBIES AND SPORTS Outside of his scientific pursuits, Michael Faraday was an enthusiastic portrait collector. He welcomed the invention of photography not only as a potential tool for accurately recording scientific observations but also as a means of promoting science and its practitioners. This interest in visual representation aligned with his broader commitment to making science accessible to the public. Faraday himself participated in the emerging visual culture of Victorian science by posing for various portraits that depicted him in different professional roles. (7)
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM Before Michael Faraday, electricity was mostly good for party tricks involving sparks and frizzed hair; after him, it powered the world.
In 1821, Faraday, working in a cluttered lab that looked more like a Victorian curiosity shop than a place of sober research, stumbled upon something remarkable. He discovered that if you ran an electric current through a wire and positioned it next to a magnet, the wire would go around and around in a charming little dance. Not just back and forth, mind you—proper, continuous circular motion.
In doing so, he had invented the world’s first electric motor, though at the time it was about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Nonetheless, it was a critical moment—the first inkling that electricity and magnetism were not just casual acquaintances but intimate partners in a much larger cosmic affair.
But Faraday was just warming up. In 1831, he pulled off one of the most important experiments in the history of physics. He found that if you moved a magnet through a coil of wire—or moved the coil around the magnet—you could conjure up an electric current. It was like magic, except real.
His favorite demonstration involved wrapping two coils around an iron ring (imagine something between a giant napkin holder and a donut of destiny). When he sent current through one coil, a flicker of current appeared in the other. He called it "mutual induction," though he might as well have called it "instant electricity."
This would later become immortalized as Faraday’s Law of Induction—formulated more mathematically (and therefore much less charmingly) by James Clerk Maxwell.
Faraday’s Laws, in Not-So-Fancy Terms
First Law: If you shake a wire through a magnetic field, or a magnetic field around a wire, you’ll get an electric current. It’s like stirring invisible soup.
Second Law: The harder and faster you shake, the bigger the current you produce. Vigorous stirring matters.
Making It Useful: Generators and the Business of Powering the World
Faraday, practical to his fingertips, realized that this trick could actually produce usable electricity. Spinning a copper disc between the poles of a magnet, he generated a steady electric current, thus inventing the first primitive generator.
Today’s transformers, electric motors, power plants—all of them owe a huge debt to this seemingly simple idea that moving a magnet near a wire can change civilization.
Not content with merely making electricity useful, Faraday also tried to explain what was happening in a way that could be visualized. He came up with the notion of “lines of force”—invisible threads along which magnetic and electric influences traveled. It was a stunningly modern idea, although at the time most physicists sniffed at it, preferring neat equations to wavy, unseen spaghetti.
Fortunately, Maxwell later showed that Faraday’s instincts had been almost embarrassingly correct.
Michael Faraday, the bookbinder’s apprentice turned scientific giant, laid down the foundations for electrical engineering, physics, and quite possibly the modern world as we know it. Without him, we might still be lighting our homes with candles, or worse, having to actually talk to people at dinner instead of pretending to check our phones.
In short, Faraday didn’t just revolutionize science—he plugged it in.
SCIENCE AND MATHS Faraday's scientific contributions were extraordinary in both breadth and significance. In chemistry, he discovered benzene, invented an early form of the Bunsen burner, and developed the system of oxidation numbers. He was the first to liquefy several gases, including chlorine, and pioneered important terminology such as "anode," "cathode," "electrode," and "ion" that remain fundamental to scientific vocabulary today.
His most revolutionary work, however, was in electricity and magnetism. Faraday's mathematical limitations meant that his work did not include complex equations. His mathematical abilities did not extend as far as trigonometry and were limited to the simplest algebra. It was James Clerk Maxwell who later took Faraday's conceptual ideas and translated them into the mathematical equations that are still used today to describe electromagnetic fields.
Faraday created the first rubber balloons in 1824. He made them while conducting experiments with gases, particularly hydrogen, at the Royal Institution in London. Faraday used rubber sheets—then called "caoutchouc"—to construct balloons for containing and studying gas behavior. These were scientific tools, not playthings. However, the idea eventually inspired commercial toy balloons, which began to appear a few years later.
PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Faraday’s religious beliefs were central to his identity and shaped both his worldview and his scientific practice. A devout member of the Sandemanian Church, Faraday believed deeply in the authority of the Bible and maintained that he could read and interpret scripture without the mediation of a priest. This conviction reflected the Sandemanian emphasis on direct engagement with the Bible and individual conscience. Faraday’s approach to science mirrored this principle: just as he read God’s word directly, he believed scientists should “read” God’s creation through careful experiment and observation, rather than relying solely on established authorities.
The most marked portion of Faraday’s personal Bible was the Book of Job, a text that emphasizes human frailty and the limitations of human understanding-an outlook that resonated with Faraday’s humility and sense of wonder before the natural world.
Faraday regularly attended the London Meeting House in Paul’s Alley, Barbican, which was the center of Sandemanian worship in London. In 1840, he was appointed an elder of his church, reflecting the respect he commanded within his religious community.
Faraday actively practiced Biblical precepts, praying with and supporting both spiritually and materially the poorer members of his religious community.
Despite his devotion, Faraday’s commitment to his faith was once tested when he was briefly excluded from the Sandemanian Church for missing a Sunday worship service without what the church deemed a sufficient reason. His “feeble” excuse was that he had been invited to dine with Queen Victoria. The church required Faraday to undertake considerable penance before he was readmitted, underscoring both the strictness of Sandemanian discipline and Faraday’s willingness to submit to its authority. (4)
POLITICS Though sometimes described as having Tory leanings, Faraday deliberately positioned himself outside the partisan political landscape of his time. This stance aligned with his Sandemanian beliefs, which emphasized that the Bible required followers to be loyal, law-abiding citizens while remaining detached from political factionalism.
Despite his aversion to politics, Faraday felt a strong sense of civic duty that led him to engage in numerous projects defined by the government and its agencies. He spent considerable time improving lighthouse illuminants for Trinity House and experimenting with different stone preservatives for use on the Houses of Parliament. These activities reflected his commitment to public service rather than political ambition.
Faraday's views on economics and social organization were at odds with the prevailing trends of his time. He was deeply opposed to the spirit of capitalism and the growing cult of affluence in Victorian England. His belief that science should be used for the common good rather than personal profit positioned him as a critic of purely market-driven approaches to scientific and technological development. (3)
SCANDAL Faraday's life was remarkably free of scandal. He was known for his integrity, honesty, and high moral character.
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| Faraday, c. 1850s |
MILITARY RECORD During the Crimean War (1853–1856), the British government approached Michael Faraday to advise on the possibility of preparing chemical weapons-specifically poison gas-for use on the battlefield against Russia. Faraday unequivocally refused to participate in the project, citing ethical reservations. He declined to use his scientific knowledge to aid in military action or the development of chemical warfare,
Faraday had one laboratory assistant, Sergeant Anderson, a soldier who remained with Faraday for the remainder of his working life. The quiet Anderson was well suited to Faraday's needs. (6)
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS While working as Humphry Davy’s assistant, Michael Faraday suffered a serious laboratory accident involving nitrogen trichloride. He narrowly escaped several violent explosions, but in one incident, he sustained injuries to his eyes and fingers, which left him with lasting impairment. This early mishap marked the beginning of a lifetime of health challenges related to chemical exposure.
Faraday’s long-term health was further compromised by chronic exposure to toxic substances, particularly mercury vapor, which was common in chemical laboratories of his era. For over 25 years, he was likely exposed to mercury almost daily, as documented in his own writings. Symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning-including headaches, vertigo, depression, giddiness, forgetfulness, gum disease, and persistent sore throats-plagued him throughout his later life. In 1850, the removal of five teeth finally ended a long bout of sore throats, a symptom now recognized as a possible sign of mercury toxicity.
At age 48, Faraday began to experience severe memory problems and vertigo, which worsened over time. By age 50, he suffered a major nervous breakdown, which forced him to stop scientific work for several years. During this period, he and his wife Sarah traveled to Switzerland, where he spent months recuperating-often taking long walks of up to 30 or even 45 miles a day in an effort to restore his health. Although he gradually improved and returned to research, his memory and mental sharpness never fully recovered, and he experienced recurring bouts of depression and neurological symptoms for the rest of his life.
Despite these significant and chronic health challenges-including probable chemical poisoning, physical injuries, and mental health crises-Faraday continued to make groundbreaking scientific contributions. His resilience in the face of persistent illness makes his achievements all the more remarkable. (8)
HOMES For much of his career, Michael Faraday lived in accommodation provided by the Royal Institution in Albemarle Street, London. As superintendent, he and his wife Sarah occupied a modest flat within the institution, allowing him to be close to his laboratory and lecture halls. This arrangement suited Faraday’s dedication to his work and his commitment to a simple lifestyle.
Faraday’s financial situation, however, was always precarious. His Sandemanian faith required that any surplus money be distributed among the needy, especially fellow members of his denomination, rather than saved for personal security. This principle, while reflecting Faraday’s deep sense of charity and community, left him with no savings to fall back on. After suffering a nervous breakdown in 1841, the lack of financial reserves became a pressing concern, and the question of stable housing for his later years grew more urgent.
The solution came in 1858, when Queen Victoria, at the request of Prince Albert, granted Faraday and his wife a grace-and-favour house at Hampton Court Green. This Grade II listed building, dating from the early eighteenth century, became Faraday’s final home. Initially, he was concerned about the cost of necessary repairs, but the royal household assured him that all expenses would be covered, allowing him to accept the generous offer without financial worry. Faraday expressed deep gratitude for this “thoughtful kindness,” and he and Sarah lived there for nearly a decade. The house, with its elegant bay windows and gardens backing onto the Thames, offered Faraday a tranquil setting in his later years. He continued some professional activities there, including experiments on magneto-electric lighting for lighthouses, while also enjoying the peace of the country and the beauty of the palace gardens.
Today, Faraday’s laboratory at the Royal Institution has been meticulously restored to its appearance in the 1850s. It now forms part of the Faraday Museum, where visitors can see the historic space in which he made many of his groundbreaking discoveries, preserving his legacy for future generation. (9)
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| Faraday House in Hampton Court By Spudgun67 Wikipedia |
TRAVEL In 1813-1815, shortly after joining the Royal Institution, Faraday accompanied Sir Humphry Davy and his wife on an 18-month European grand tour that took them through France, Switzerland, Italy, and Belgium. During this journey, Faraday had the opportunity to meet many influential scientists of the era, broadening his scientific perspectives and connections. The trip was educational but not without its challenges - Faraday sometimes had to serve as a personal servant to Lady Davy, an arrangement that likely tested his patience and humility.
DEATH Michael Faraday died on August 25, 1867 at his grace-and-favour house at Hampton Court, Surrey, aged 75. In his final days, Faraday remained calm and reflective, drawing comfort from his Christian faith and passages such as the 23rd and 46th Psalms. He passed away quietly, sitting in his study chair.
Faraday was buried in the Sandemanian church plot in the dissenters’ (non-Anglican) section of Highgate Cemetery in north London. The burial took place four days after his death, on August 29, 1867. As was the custom of his Sandemanian faith, the burial was conducted without ceremony, ritual, or religious service-reflecting his lifelong commitment to simplicity and scriptural authority. The grave is marked by a simple headstone bearing only his name and the dates of his birth and death. The area was unconsecrated ground, as the consecrated sections of Highgate Cemetery were reserved for members of the Church of England.
Faraday’s funeral was a private affair, attended only by close family and a few personal friends. There was no pomp or public ceremony, in accordance with his wishes and the Sandemanian tradition. The burial took place in perfect silence, with no eulogy or formal address, embodying the humility and modesty that characterized both Faraday’s life and faith.
Although Faraday was offered burial in Westminster Abbey-a rare honour-he declined this, preferring a simple resting place. However, he is commemorated by a memorial floor stone in the nave of Westminster Abbey, just north of the grave of Sir Isaac Newton. The memorial, later replaced by a metal plaque, is inscribed in Latin and notes that Faraday is “buried elsewhere”. (10)
APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Michael Faraday, despite being one of history’s most brilliant scientists, hasn’t exactly been a media darling in the traditional sense. Still, over the years, Faraday has popped up in interesting ways across books, TV, films, and even popular culture.
Here’s a quick tour:
1. Biographical Dramas: Faraday occasionally shows up in documentaries and historical dramas. The BBC has featured him several times in series like Horizon and The Story of Science. He's usually portrayed as a modest, almost shy figure—someone who was more comfortable tinkering in his lab than seeking the spotlight.
2. Inspirations in Fiction: Faraday’s name has been borrowed for fictional characters, sometimes to evoke ideas of science and discovery. For instance, in the TV show Lost, there’s a physicist named Daniel Faraday—a clear nod to Michael. The character deals with time travel and electromagnetism, areas that feel thematically appropriate for the real Faraday’s legacy.
3. Educational Portrayals: Faraday’s famous Christmas Lectures at the Royal Institution (which he started!) are still going strong and are often shown on British TV around the holidays. They sometimes include dramatizations or references to Faraday’s original lectures, like The Chemical History of a Candle, which remains a classic of science communication.
4. Video Games and Pop Culture: In some steampunk settings—video games, novels, graphic novels—you'll occasionally find "Faraday cages" and devices named after him. Even though Faraday himself doesn’t appear, his scientific contributions are woven into fictional worlds that deal with electricity and magnetism.
5. Public Honors: Though not "media" exactly, Faraday’s face appeared on the British £20 banknote from 1991 to 2001, surrounded by scientific symbols—essentially a media appearance in every Briton's wallet.
6. Mentions in Popular Science Media: Writers like Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything) and others have lovingly described Faraday’s life and achievements, painting him as a figure of almost miraculous scientific intuition combined with personal humility. These profiles have kept his image alive in the public imagination even though he’s not the sort to pop up in Hollywood blockbusters.
ACHIEVEMENTS Faraday's achievements are numerous and significant. They include:
Laws of Electrolysis: Fundamental laws governing electrochemical reactions.
Electromagnetic Induction: The principle behind the electric transformer and generator.
Diamagnetism: The property of certain substances to be repelled by a magnetic field.
Benzene: Isolation of the chemical compound.
Field Theory: Pioneering work that laid the groundwork for James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic field theory.
Invention of the electric motor and dynamo.
Contributions to the understanding of electromagnetism and light (Faraday effect).
Establishment of the Friday Evening Discourses at the Royal Institution, which popularized science
Sources (1) Britannica (2) Tactile Images (3) Nature (4) Encyclopaedia of Trivia (5) Epsilon (6) The History of Scientific Discovery (7) PubMed (8) The Fact File (9) Victorian Web (10) Christian History Institute
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