Edward Nairne

Edward Nairne [b. Sandwich, England, 1726, d. London, September 1, 1806 was an optician and scientific instrument maker.

Related Topics:
Sandwich - England - 1726 - London - September 1 - 1806

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He is remembered for building an electrostatic generator consisting of a glass cylinder mounted on glass insulators; the device can supply either positive or negative electricity. He also makes improvements to the Cuff microscope building into a transportable case calling it a chest microscope.

Related Topics:
Electrostatic generator - Microscope

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He formed a partnership with Thomas Blunt and conducted business at 22 Cornhill from 1774 to 1793.

Related Topics:
Thomas Blunt - Cornhill - 1774 - 1793

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In the early 1770s, Edward Nairne constructed the first successful marine barometer by constricting the glass tube between the cistern and register plate. The instrument was suspended from gimbals mounted within a freestanding frame to provide additional stability. Nairne?s first marine barometer was sent on James Cook?s second voyage to the South Pacific.

Related Topics:
1770 - Marine - Barometer - James Cook - South Pacific

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One of earliest references to rubber in Europe appears to be in 1770, when Edward Nairne was selling cubes of natural rubber from his shop at 20 Cornhill in London. The cubes, meant to be erasers, sold for the astonishingly high price of 3 shillings per half-inch cube.

Related Topics:
Rubber - Europe - 1770 - Eraser - Shilling

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In 1776, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.

Related Topics:
1776 - Royal Society

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