Michael Faraday : Unknown person in the history.

Michael Faraday 

Michael Faraday (1791–1867) is remembered as one of the greatest scientists in history, especially in the fields of electricity, magnetism, and electrochemistry. Even though he had very little formal education and came from a poor family, his passion for learning, extraordinary curiosity, and powerful imagination helped him make discoveries that transformed the modern world. Today, almost every device that uses electricity—motors, generators, transformers—can be traced back to Faraday’s experiments and insights.

Early Life and Background

Faraday was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington Butts, a small village near London. His family was extremely poor. His father, James Faraday, was a blacksmith, and his mother, Margaret, worked hard to keep the family together. Faraday received only basic schooling, mostly learning to read, write, and do simple math. Because of financial problems, he had to start working at a very young age. At the age of 14, he became an apprentice to a bookbinder named George Riebau.

This job changed his life. While working in the bookshop, Faraday had access to many scientific books. He read everything he could—especially books on physics, chemistry, and electricity. He also attended public lectures by philosophers and scientists. One of these lectures, given by the famous chemist Sir Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution, inspired him deeply.

Journey into Science

Faraday took careful notes during Davy’s lectures and sent them to him, politely asking for a chance to work in the Royal Institution. Impressed by Faraday’s dedication, Davy offered him a job as a laboratory assistant in 1813. This was the starting point of Faraday’s scientific career.

As an assistant, Faraday learned chemistry, experimented with materials, and worked on scientific instruments. He helped Davy with experiments and also traveled with him across Europe. This journey exposed him to leading scientists of the continent and expanded his knowledge. However, Faraday’s real success came after returning to London, when he began conducting his own experiments.

Contribution to Chemistry

Although Faraday is best known for his work in electricity, he also made important contributions to chemistry. He discovered and isolated benzene in 1825, one of the most important organic compounds used today in multiple industries. He also invented the system of oxidation numbers to describe chemical reactions, and he introduced the concept of the electrochemical equivalent, explaining how electricity can break substances into ions.

Faraday also popularized the use of laboratory glassware such as the Bunsen burner and improved gas liquefaction methods. His work on gases led to the liquefaction of chlorine and other substances, helping scientists better understand matter.

Electromagnetic Induction – Faraday's Greatest Discovery

Faraday’s most famous discovery is electromagnetic induction, made in 1831. This breakthrough laid the foundation for modern electricity generation. Faraday found that when a magnetic field changes near a coil of wire, it produces an electric current in the wire. This is known as Faraday’s law of induction.

This single discovery led to the invention of:

• Electric generators
  Transformers
  Induction motors
  Many electrical devices we use today

Before Faraday, electricity was mostly a curiosity used in small experiments. After his discovery, electricity became something that could be generated and used on a large scale. This is why Faraday is often called “the father of electrical engineering.”

Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction

Faraday summarized his discovery in a simple idea:
A changing magnetic field produces an electric current.

This principle powers everything from power plants to charging coils in smartphones.

Electric Motor Discovery

Faraday also built the first electric motor in 1821. He demonstrated that electricity and magnetism were connected through motion. His device was simple, but it proved the basic principle that electric current can produce rotational motion. Today, electric motors are used in fans, trains, refrigerators, washing machines, and countless other machines around the world.

Contributions to Magnetism

Faraday also explored the nature of magnetism. He discovered diamagnetism, a property of materials that create a weak magnetic field in opposition to an external magnetic field. He also introduced the concept of magnetic lines of force, which later inspired James Clerk Maxwell to develop equations forming the foundation of modern physics.

Faraday was not a mathematical scientist; he preferred experimental results. But his drawings of magnetic fields helped later physicists express these ideas in mathematical equations.

Inventions and Practical Work

Faraday’s inventions and practical contributions include:

• The Faraday Cage: A structure that blocks electric fields. It is still used today in laboratories, airplanes, and sensitive electronic equipment.

• Transformers: Devices that increase or decrease voltage levels, crucial for modern electrical power distribution.

• Important chemical techniques used in laboratories worldwide.

His discoveries influenced telecommunications, radio technology, and electrical power systems.

Role at the Royal Institution

Faraday spent most of his career at the Royal Institution in London. He became a professor of chemistry there, though he refused to be called a “professor” because he believed titles were unnecessary. He delivered thousands of lectures and conducted numerous experiments. Faraday was also known for making science understandable to ordinary people. He started the famous Christmas Lectures, where he taught children about science in simple ways. These lectures continue even today.

Personal Life

Faraday married Sarah Barnard in 1821. Their marriage was happy, though they had no children. Faraday was known for his simple lifestyle, honesty, and kindness. He avoided politics and disliked fame. Despite his great achievements, he remained humble and preferred to be called simply “Mr. Faraday.”

Later Years and Declining Health

By the 1850s, Faraday’s health had begun to decline, partly due to chemical exposure over many years. His memory became weak, and he found it difficult to continue experiments. The British government offered him a burial place in Westminster Abbey (an honor given to only the greatest figures), but Faraday refused, wishing for a simple burial. He died on August 25, 1867, at the age of 75.

Legacy

Michael Faraday’s influence on the world is immense. His discoveries helped start the Second Industrial Revolution. Today:

• Power stations generate electricity using Faraday’s principles.

• Electric motors run factories, homes, and vehicles.

• Electronics, communication, and transportation systems are built on ideas Faraday discovered over 150 years ago.

Faraday is remembered as a scientist who combined imagination with practical thinking. Many historians say that without Faraday, modern civilization as we know it—powered by electricity—would not exist.

                                                        THANK YOU!  

Written and Searched by ---

                                        Anand Sonawale

Edited by ---

                  Raj Sonawale