John Theophilus Desaguliers

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John Theophilus Desaguliers (13 March 1683 – 29 February 1744) was a natural philosopher born in France. He was a member of the Royal Society of London beginning 29 July 1714. He was presented with the Royal Society's highest honor, the Copley Medal, in 1734, 1736 and 1741, the 1741 award being for his "discovery of the properties of Electricity".^[1][2] Desaguliers at one time assisted Sir Isaac Newton in his experiments and through his speakings and writings was among Newton's staunch advocates.

[edit] Biography

Born in La Rochelle, Desaguliers was an immigrant to England from France. He was born into a Huguenot (Protestant) family and fled to England at the age of 11 (1694) to escape the consequences of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and succeeded Dr. Keil in reading lectures on experimental philosophy at Hart Hall. He was the first who introduced the reading of lectures in London, where he had for his auditors not only the learned and the great, but also George I and George II and the royal family. In 1714, he was chosen a member of the Royal Society, to whose Transactions he communicated some valuable papers. In 1718, he completed his degrees at Oxford as bachelor and doctor of laws. Desagulier's reputation as a scientist was sealed not only by his three awards from the Royal Society, but also by publication of a two volume word entitled A course of Experimental Philosophy. Publication of the first volume coincided with the year he first received the Copley Medal (1734), while the second volume's publication came 10 year later in 1744, the year of his death. The first volume concerns theoretical and practical mechanics with an explanation of the basics of Newtonian physics. The second volume contains material oriented toward practical application of scientific findings.^[3]

An inventor as well as a scientist, Desaguliers improved upon the steam engine design of Thomas Savery through the addition of a safety valve. He also designed methods for heating liquid boilers with steam rather than fire, presumably increasing their safety significantly.^[4]

Additionally, Desaguliers was a Freemason, elected as the third Grand Master in 1719, Deputy Grand Master in 1723 and 1725 of the newly formed London Grand Lodge.

There are at least three surviving portraits of Desaguliers dating to 1725 (42 years of age), all held by the National Portrait Gallery in London and available for on-line viewing.^[5]

[edit] References

1. ↑  Copley archive winners 1799-1731. The Royal Society. Retrieved 2005-02-12. The work honored is not detailed on this site.
2. ↑  Fellows of the Royal Society - D. The Royal Society. Retrieved 2005-02-12. This PDF document also contains birth and death dates.
3. ↑  Gory, Paul. A Course of experimental philosophy. Retrieved 2005-02-12. Translated French=>English using Babel Fish, 2005-02-12.
4. ↑  John Theophilus Desaguliers, French-born scientist and inventor, 1725. Science & Society Picture Library. Retrieved 2005-02-12.
5. ↑  John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683-1744), Natural philosopher. Sitter in 3 portraits. The National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 2005-02-12.

Mackey, Albert G., Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, An, The Masonic History Company, Chicago, 1966.