Michael Faraday

1791

Into poverty, with almost no schooling.

💡 Did you know? Faraday came from deep poverty with barely any schooling: teaching himself most of what he knew.

electromagnetic induction

A moving magnet generates current in a coil.

💡 Did you know? Faraday's discovery that magnetism can generate electricity underlies practically all power generation on Earth.

generator and electric motor

Practically all electrical power technology rests on it.

💡 Did you know? Without Faraday's induction there would be neither generators nor electric motors and almost no modern technology.

Faraday cage

It shields its interior from electric fields.

💡 Did you know? The „Faraday cage“ shields its interior from electric fields: which is why a car is safe in a thunderstorm.

bookbinder

He taught himself much of what he knew.

💡 Did you know? Before becoming a scientist, Faraday worked as a bookbinder and read the books he bound.

farad

Symbol F.

💡 Did you know? The unit of electrical capacitance, the farad, is named after him.

knighthood (declined)

He deliberately remained modest.

💡 Did you know? Faraday turned down a knighthood and the presidency of the Royal Society: he wanted to remain „plain Michael Faraday“.

Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday was a British physicist whose discovery of electromagnetic induction created the basis of power generation.

💡 Did you know? The man who helped found modern electricity had barely any schooling and had been a bookbinder.

1867

Died: 25 August 1867 in Hampton Court, aged 75

London

Born: 22 September 1791 in London