Humphry Davy is a famous British scientist and inventor from Cornwall who was active from the late 18th century through the early 19th century (born 1778 died 1829). He is best known for his work in chemistry including discovery of new elements (such as alkaline metals), chemical basis of electrical interactions, and invention of miner's safety lamp.
Humphry Davy is a famous British scientist and inventor from Cornwall who was active from the late 18th century through the early 19th century (born 1778 died 1829). He is best known for his work in chemistry including discovery of new elements (such as alkaline metals), the chemical basis of electrical interactions, and invention of miner's safety lamp.
The Humphry Davy Papers in the Dibner Library of Science and Technology include correspondence, documents, and a portrait of Davy, with the items dating from 1803-1837. Included in the collection is a signed correspondence from Davy regarding his discovery of alkali metals and predates his published paper on the discovery. In the experiment, Davy uses a Volatic pile (early battery) to pass an electrical current through molten potash, which creates metallic globes that burst into flame.
Along with the scientific and general correspondence is a poem by Davy entitled "Nonsense Verses. The Death of the Weasel."