Joseph Priestley, Catalyst of the Enlightenment

Posted by on Nov 26, 2013 in | Comments Off on Joseph Priestley, Catalyst of the Enlightenment When Joseph Priestley (1733-1804) is remembered today, it’s usually for his 1774 discovery, in England, of oxygen. Few know he was a noted theologian, political progressive, and prolific author whose scientific contributions include the development of the carbonation process, the identification of carbon monoxide, and early experiments in electricity. He counted Benjamin Franklin, Thomas...
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Joseph Priestley’s Microscope

Posted by on Nov 20, 2013 in | Comments Off on Joseph Priestley’s Microscope The achievements of Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) have been committed to memory by generations of American schoolchildren, who for years listened as teachers credited him as the discoverer of oxygen, which he called “dephlogisticated air,” and the inventor of carbonated water. Much of the attention given to Priestley highlighted his scientific work, but his contributions to education, natural...
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