Michael Faraday, one of the most influential scientists in history

 

         

Michael Faraday FRS was an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and electrolysis.

A self-educated man, who knew no mathematics, Michael Faraday rose from errand boy to become one of world's greatest scientists. He made the discoveries upon which most of twentieth-century technology is based. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and electrolysis. His inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices formed the foundation of electric motor technology, and it was largely due to his efforts that electricity became practical for use in technology.

On Faraday's uses of lines of force, James Clerk Maxwell wrote that they show Faraday "to have been in reality a mathematician of a very high order one from whom the mathematicians of the future may derive valuable and fertile methods."

Albert Einstein kept a picture of Faraday on his study wall, alongside pictures of Arthur Schopenhauer and James Clerk Maxwell.

Ernest Rutherford stated, "When we consider the magnitude and extent of his discoveries and their influence on the progress of science and of industry, there is no honour too great to pay to the memory of Faraday, one of the greatest scientific discoverers of all time".

The SI unit of capacitance is named in his honour: the farad.

Michael Faraday’s birthday on 22 September. (Born: September 22 1791 , Died: August 25, 1867)