Robert Boyle
Sean Williams
introduction
• 25 January 1627 – 31 December 1691) was a
natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and
inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He
is best known for Boyle's law.[1] Although his
research and personal philosophy clearly has its
roots in the alchemical tradition, he is largely
regarded today as the first modern chemist, and
therefore one of the founders of modern
chemistry. Among his works, The Skeptical
Chemist is seen as a cornerstone book in the field
of chemistry.
Birth certificate
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Born 25 January 1627
Born at County Waterford, Ireland
His father was Richard Boyle
Robert's mother, Catherine Fenton,
Diary entry
Dear diary
today I learned how to
multiply
Double digits and divide double
digits also I have decided to
become a scientist
Newspaper article
I share Arnett Smiley's optimistic appraisal for the future of ammonia as a
partial replacement for refrigerants being phased out (The News, Dec.
12, 1994).
After some 120 years of field experience, the advantages and disadvantages
of ammonia are well understood and have been described by Smiley and
others in recent articles.
Prior to the United States' adherence to the Montreal Protocol, the American
refrigeration industry was conducted in a free market environment with
minimal governmental interference.
Driven by traditional market factors such as cost, reliability, and safety, each
refrigerant and compressor design carved out a market niche over a
period of time.
Ammonia and the reciprocating compressor dominated the large-tonnage
warehouse and industrial market while the chlorine-containing
refrigerants took the rest.
This situation was altered when the Environmental Protection Agency, acting
under the provisions of the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol,
promulgated governmental regulations regarding refrigerants and
service procedures.
Traditional market factors were no longer controlling, having been
superseded by governmental fiat and environmental concerns.
Ammonia's advantages
In this new market situation, ammonia, the oldest of refrigerants, possesses a
number of attributes which may enable it to penetrate markets
previously dominated by chlorine-containing refrigerants.
1. Ammonia avoids the political and environmental pressures generated …
Timeline
Robert Boyle Events in British historyThe Scientific Revolution 1625: Accession of
Charles I 1627: 25 Jan. Born at Lismore, Ireland, seventh son of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl
of Cork, by his second wife, Catherine 1626: Death of Francis Bacon, who inspired
Boyle's scientific method. 1628: William Harvey publishes his discovery of the
circulation of the blood1635, 2 Oct: Enters Eton College with his brother, Francis, later
Viscount Shannon 1636: Ship Money case 1638, 23 Nov: Leaves Eton College 1638:
Publication of Galileo's Discourses on Two New Sciences1639: Travels to France and
Switzerland with Francis, under the tutelage of Isaac Marcombes; spends several
months in Geneva 1641: Travels to Italy 1642: Stranded at Marseilles; returns to
Geneva1642: Outbreak of Civil War1642 : Death of Galileo; birth of Newton1644:
Returns to England 1644 : Publication of Descartes' Principia philosophiae, the fullest
exposition of the mechanical philosophy1645: Settles at Stalbridge, Dorset, where he
spends much of the next decade1645: End of 1st Civil War 1649: laboratory established
at Stalbridge 1648-9: 2nd Civil War 1649, Jan: Execution of Charles I 1651:
Publication of Hobbes' Leviathan seen by many as a threat to Christianity 1652-4: Visits
Ireland 1653: Establishment of Protectorate 1654: Severe illness in Ireland, affecting
Boyle's eyesight Late 1655 or early 1656: Settles at Oxford 1656-7: Blood transfusion
experiments at Oxford1657: Otto von Guericke's vacuum experiment 1658: Death of
Oliver Cromwell 1659: First executes experiments with air-pump 1660 : 28 Nov.
Attends inaugural meeting of Royal Society1660: Restoration of Charles II1660:
Foundation of Royal Society1662, 7 Feb: Appointed first Governor of the Corporation for
Propagation of the Gospel in New England 1665: Great Plague1665: Publication of
Quote
And I might add the confidence with which
distracted persons do oftentimes, when
they are awake, think, they see black
fiends in places, where there is no black
object in sight without them.
Robert Boyle
More robert boyle pictures
Awards
Founding Fellow of the Royal Society of
London
Author: New Experiments PhysioMechanicall, Touching the Spring of the Air
and its Effects (Made, for the Most Part, in
a New Pneumatical Engine)[ (1660)
Author: The Sceptical Chymist (1661
Museums and where they are
LONDON:
The Science Museum
The Royal Society of London