Abstract
WHILE he was still Prince of Wales, the future King George III showed much interest in mechanics, opticsf astronomy and scientific experiments of all kinds. Thus encouraged, the leading instrument makers of the second half of the eighteenth century constructed many models and apparatus for the instruction of the Prince. As might be expected, these models illustrate the craftsmanship of the period, and collectively they convey a remarkably clear impression of the general field of scientific study and experiment at that time. Fortunately, the instruments were preserved as a collection, and for many years they were kept at Kew Observatory. They were used again for instructing the many children of George III, and in 1841 they were presented to King's College, London. The collection was loaned to the Science Museum in 1926, but since 1928 it has been in store on account of the lack of space. It has now been placed on exhibition again and may be seen, until the end of September, at the Science Museum, South Kensington, London, S.W.7. Historically, the exhibition is of interest, as it covers an important era in scientific development—an era which witnessed the growth of modern physics and chemistry from the 'black magic' and haphazard alchemy of the Middle Ages, the development of such instruments as the thermometer, and great advances in the study of electricity. Science was becoming popular, but at the same time the foundations were being laid for progress on logical lines of experimental and theoretical philosophy. The course of instruction and the experiments performed tended to follow closely the lines laid down half a century earlier by the Dutch philosopher 'sGravesande, himself a disciple of Sir Isaac Newton, and one of the gems of the present exhibition is the 'Philosophical Table', which is similar to that designed by 'sGravesande. In the parlance of this more vulgar age, a 'philosophical table' is a 'laboratory bench'. Other items worthy of special note are the vacuum pumps made by George Adams and two fine microscopes constructed about 1750.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scientific Instruments of George III. Nature 163, 631 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/163631a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/163631a0