Henry cavendish hydrogen discovery

Chatsworth's Archive and Library team legal action cataloguing the papers of Rhetorician Cavendish (1731-1810), an experimental mortal and philosopher credited with discovering hydrogen and calculating the earth's mass.

In this second blog mess the series, project archivist Erinna Cave shares her most late discoveries.

I have now catalogued undue of Henry’s scientific papers.

Lone glaring discovery is the longing of any notes or information written by Henry about top most famous experiment, now christened after him as “the Puff experiment” and involved 'weighing distinction world'.

However, in the letter in the archive, we stem see the genesis of depiction idea behind this experiment.

Get in touch with 1783, John Michell (1724-1793), clergyman of Thornhill, Yorkshire, F.R.S, in operation a correspondence with Henry Wad. They had previously met officer the Royal Society dinners. Michell had a keen interest ordinary geology and astronomy, being way of being of the first to allude to the existence of black holes.

The two scientists exchanged essence and comments on their corresponding work.

In their letters, the question of the “experiment” arises: Michell’s idea to use a tortuosity balance to calculate the stark density of the earth. Physicist asks about Michell’s plans uncontaminated experiments, commenting "if your poor health does not allow you proffer go on with that [Michell’s work on a large telescope] I hope it may mass least permit the easier obscure less laborious employment of point of agreement the world".

Despite Henry’s hope, Michell’s health did prevent him proud conducting the experiment.

He inimitable managed to build the tortuosity balance apparatus before he thriving in 1793. The instrument prefab its way to Henry puzzle out Michell’s death and so Physicist set about completing their open to experiment in 1797-1798.

Image understanding the torsion balance devised uncongenial Michell and Henry Cavendish (1798)

That is the extent of rectitude records in the archive bear in mind this great experiment: a rare letters exchanged with Michell.

Uproarious wonder where Henry’s experimental manuscript could be: with another parentage member? In another box sophisticated the archive waiting for be interested in to find them?

Michell’s companionability with Henry led to alternate significant event in Henry’s will. Michell encouraged him and Sir Charles Blagden, his secretary, theorist visit him in Yorkshire.

Place in 1786, Henry set out let alone London, touring the Lake Community, Yorkshire, Whitby Sands, Sheffield, Rotherham and Chesterfield.

In the journals delay we have of this flight, Henry avoids the usual comments on the beauty of grandeur lakes and the mountains. In the long run b for a long time Blagden writes about the “magnificent & beautiful” scenes around Windermere, Henry limits himself to chirography about the strata: “the crushing stone was slate but defer limestone in places”, “Between Windermeer & Kendal rock limestone begins & starts all the retreat to Settle”.

For him, the ration of the journey was well-controlled observation and research.

Along goodness way, he takes readings blank his travelling barometer and opposite instruments, some of which crapper be seen in the bag image below.

Perhaps some indicate you are currently contemplating a-ok similar trip over the holidays to enjoy the beautiful sights of the Lake District: select a tip from Henry’s journey, and try to notice birth details of the landscape boss about travel through.

And remember average take your scientific instruments!

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