John Dalton

John Dalton (September 6, 1766 – July 27, 1844) was a British chemist and physicist, born at Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth in Cumberland. He is most well known for his advocacy of the atomic theory.

Death and legacy

Dalton died in Manchester in 1844 of paralysis. He had suffered a first attack in 1837, and a second in 1838 had left him enfeebled, both physically and mentally, though he remained able to make experiments. In May 1844 he had another stroke and on July 26 he recorded with trembling hand his last meteorological observation. On the 27th he fell from his bed and was found lifeless by his attendant.

Related Topics:
Paralysis - 1837 - 1838 - Stroke - July 26

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A bust of him, by Francis Legatt Chantrey, was publicly subscribed for him and placed in the entrance hall of the Royal Manchester Institution. It now stands in the entrance to Manchester Town Hall.

Related Topics:
Francis Legatt Chantrey - Royal Manchester Institution - Manchester Town Hall

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Dalton had requested that his eyes be examined after his death, in an attempt to discover the cause of his colour-blindness. He had hypothesised that his aqueous humour might be coloured blue. Post-mortem examination showed that the humours of the eye were perfectly normal. However, an eye was preserved at the Royal Institution, and a 1990s study on DNA extracted from the eye showed that he had lacked the pigment that gives sensitivity to the colour green, the classic condition known as a deuteranope.

Related Topics:
Aqueous humour - Post-mortem - 1990s - DNA - Pigment

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In honour of his work with ratios and chemicals that led to the idea of atoms and atomic weights, many chemists and biochemists use the (still unofficial) unit dalton (abbreviated Da) to denote one atomic mass unit, or 1/12 the weight of a neutral atom of carbon-12.

Related Topics:
Dalton - Atomic mass unit - Carbon-12

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:John Dalton's records, carefully preserved for a century, were destroyed during the World War II bombing of Manchester. It is not only the living who are killed in war. - Isaac Asimov.

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The road John Dalton Street in the centre of Manchester is named after him, as is John Dalton House at the address 121 Deansgate.

Related Topics:
Manchester - Deansgate

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