|
I could also wish, for the honour of the nation, that there was a complete apparatus for a
course of mathematics, mechanics and experimental philosophy; and a good salary upon an able
professor, who should give regular lectures on these subjects.
Tobias Smollett, 1771.
Physics in public
In Smollett's novel The Expedition of Humphry Clinker, the character Matthew Bramble was
pointing to a gap in the subjects covered by the newly-opened British Museum. He
was drawing on his knowledge of the natural philosophy lectures given in the 1760s.
|
A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery, by Joseph Wright of Derby, 1766.
In this picture Wright shows a lecturer, possibly John Whitehurst of Derby, demonstrating an
orrery. The orrery shown is very similar to the one in the King George III
collection. Wright uses of the light from the lamp representing the Sun to create a very
dramatic picture. This use of light is a feature of many of Wright's pictures.
© Credit
|
Lectures on natural philosophy had first been given in about 1705. One of the most influential
of the early lecturers was J.T. Desaguliers, who was also curator
of experiments at the Royal Society. He helped to standardise the courses by
publishing first his syllabus, and then the text of his lectures.
Another important lecturer was Stephen Demainbray, who toured
Britain and France between 1749 and 1754, giving public lectures on natural philosophy and
collecting apparatus as he travelled. In 1754, he became one of the
many scientists advertising courses of lectures in London.
Women were welcomed by lecturers, particularly after the success of the book Sir Isaac
Newton's Philosophy Explained for the Use of the Ladies by Francesco Algarotti, translated
from the Italian and published in 1739. Children benefited too: little previous knowledge of
natural philosophy was necessary to attend courses. James Ferguson made a point of claiming
that:
No hard Terms of Art will be used, nor any Thing but what generally happens in
Common Discourse; by which Means the whole subject will be intelligible.
Medical lecturers were more successful at attracting an audience than those offering natural
philosophy courses because natural philosophy was never part of a
vocational training.
Other institutions, such as the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and
Commerce established in 1754 (now the Royal Society of Arts), captured the new audience
and took over the role of disseminating information about technological innovations. Specialist
scientific institutions devoted to particular subjects such as chemistry and natural history
dwarfed the efforts of the independent lecturers. Towards the end of the 1750s, audiences for
lectures began to dwindle. It became more and more difficult for lecturers to make a living.
Benjamin Martin published extensively and sold scientific instruments while James Ferguson sold
portraits in ink for 15 shillings (75p). Demainbray campaigned for
patronage, and eventually became Superintendent of the King's
Observatory at Kew.
In the 1770s, publishers started to produce popular science books for children. These lecture
courses and science books of the eighteenth century have left their legacy. Popular science
books published today often carry the same experiments and tell the same stories about the past
masters of science, such as Isaac Newton.
Click on these links to find out more about:
 J.T. Desaguliers
Stephen Demainbray
Stephen Demainbray's public lectures
Stephen Demainbray's lecture apparatus
Lectures on other subjects
|
