Michael Faraday was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington Butts, then in Surrey and now part of London near Elephant and Castle. From a modest schooling and a bookbinder’s apprenticeship, he went on to become one of the nineteenth century’s most influential experimental scientists.
When and where was Michael Faraday born?
Faraday’s birth date was September 22, 1791. His birthplace, Newington Butts, was in Surrey at the time and is now within the London area around Elephant and Castle. The Royal Institution’s account gives the date and modern location; a Royal Society catalogue record also identifies Newington Butts and the same date.
How did Faraday get his start?
Schooling and bookbinding
Faraday was the son of a blacksmith and received little formal education. Recalling his schooling, he described it as “of the most ordinary description, consisting of little more than the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic at a common day-school.” This is Faraday’s recollection as quoted in an 1868 Royal Society memorial reproduced by MacTutor History of Mathematics.
At about 14, he became an apprentice to bookbinder George Riebau, working in the trade from 1805 to 1812. The books he handled gave him a way to pursue scientific reading alongside his work.
From Davy’s lectures to the Royal Institution
After attending lectures by chemist Humphry Davy, Faraday prepared notes and sent them to him while seeking scientific work. In 1813, Davy hired him as a chemical assistant at the Royal Institution. That appointment gave Faraday a route into sustained experimental research despite his limited formal schooling.
What did Michael Faraday discover?
Faraday’s scientific achievements spanned electricity, chemistry, and the interaction of light and magnetism. The Royal Institution documents several landmark contributions:
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- 1821: Experiments on electromagnetic rotation, an important step in the development of the electric motor.
- 1825: Discovery of benzene.
- 1831: Electromagnetic induction, a foundational phenomenon in electrical science.
- 1845: The magneto-optical effect and diamagnetism.
- Electrolysis: Faraday also made important contributions to understanding electrolysis.
These discoveries were experimental contributions with lasting influence; they should not be reduced to a claim that Faraday alone invented modern electrical technology. The Royal Institution’s biography and research overview provides further detail.
How did Faraday make science accessible?
Faraday was also a prominent public educator. He helped establish the Royal Institution’s Friday Evening Discourses and Christmas Lectures in the mid-1820s, and delivered 19 Christmas Lecture series. Those public programs made demonstrations and scientific ideas available to audiences beyond specialist researchers.
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- Used Book in Good Condition
His best-known lecture series, A Course of Six Lectures on the Chemical History of a Candle, explored chemistry through an everyday object. William Crookes edited and published the lecture text in 1861. The Royal Institution lists that edition along with Faraday’s three-volume Experimental Researches in Electricity, published in 1837, 1844, and 1855.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When did Faraday die?
Faraday died at Hampton Court on August 25, 1867. His life connected a working-class apprenticeship to influential laboratory research and public science teaching.
Quick Recap
Further reading
- Royal Institution: Michael Faraday — biography, work, and lecture-publication details.
- MacTutor: Faraday memorial — the historical memorial containing Faraday’s recollection of his schooling.
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