Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday was born in England in 1791. He didn't have much primary education, and at the age of 14 became an apprentice bookbinder. Presumable he spent more time reading the books than binding them, because he became very interested in all the physic and chemistry experiments that were happening at that time. Faraday soon left the bookbinding trade and became an assistant to Humphrey Davy, the most brilliant scientist around at that time.

He made many discoveries in chemistry at that time, but was particularly interested in electrolysis. This involves separating two substances in solution, by passing an electric current through the solution. One substance moves to the positive electrode, and the other moves to the negative electrode. His studious experimentation led to what we now know as Faraday's Laws of Electrolysis.

Around this time, it had been discovered by others, that electricity could produce a magnetic field. Faraday turned this idea on its head, and suggested that perhaps magnetic field could produce electricity.

This idea went on to be developed into the first generator, which produced electricity, by mechanical means.

Without Faraday, perhaps we would be powering everything electrical in our house by batteries, and you know how long they last for!

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