Rhomylly Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Since it's on my Information Tech class syllabus, I'm reading a (actually fascinating) book called The Victorian Internet about the invention of the telegraph... When a very familiar name pops up from the page. Yes, that would be Mr. Charles Wheatstone. He really got around, didn't he? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miikae Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Submarine cables all the way to France too, to help the stock exchanges make money! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miikae Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Not to mention the Wheatstone Bridge he refined/improved and gave his name to it in 1843 , although it was invented by Samuel Hunter Christie in 1833 . Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjcjones Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 That's "Sir" Charles to you Sir Charles Wheatstone FRS* was one of the leading scientists and inventors of his age. In our little world, we think of him primarily as the inventor of the concertina, but to the rest of the world it is his scientific work which is considered the most important. Even his work on the concertina originated with his interest in acoustics. If he hadn't also been involved in the family musical instrument business one wonders whether he would ever have developed it into a playable instrument. * Fellow of the Royal Society: a great honour. Fellows are elected by existing members and candidates for election must have made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Timson Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) * Fellow of the Royal Society: a great honour. Fellows are elected by existing members and candidates for election must have made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science". CW, although a very sociable man in private and friends with most of the great names of European science at that time, was very shy in public. Then as now fellows were expected to give lectures on their research in the Royal Society lecture hall (which I've been in - that place oozes scientific history). Unfortunately on one occasion nerves overrcame him and he bolted just before the lecture was due to start. After that Wheatstone got his good friend Faraday to deliver his lectures for him and to this day lecturers are locked in at the RS just before their lectures to prevent them "doing a Wheatstone". Chris Edited to add PS: This biography is an absorbing read if you are interested. Edited February 5, 2009 by Chris Timson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miikae Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 * Fellow of the Royal Society: a great honour. Fellows are elected by existing members and candidates for election must have made "a substantial contribution to the improvement of natural knowledge, including mathematics, engineering science and medical science". CW, although a very sociable man in private and friends with most of the great names of European science at that time, was very shy in public. Then as now fellows were expected to give lectures on their research in the Royal Society lecture hall (which I've been in - that place oozes scientific history). Unfortunately on one occasion nerves overrcame him and he bolted just before the lecture was due to start. After that Wheatstone got his good friend Faraday to deliver his lectures for him and to this day lecturers are locked in at the RS just before their lectures to prevent them "doing a Wheatstone". Chris Edited to add PS: This biography is an absorbing read if you are interested. You just beat me to adding that one Chris , me being a late riser and all . Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 This biography is an absorbing read if you are interested. I was interested till I saw the price. Guess I'll have to wait for my birthday. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 (edited) Anyone watching the BBC drama "Larks Rise to Candleford" may have spotted the Wheatstone ABC Telegraph installed in the Candleford Post Office. Edited February 5, 2009 by Theo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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