Robert Boyle

The Honourable Robert Boyle (January 25, 1627 - December 30, 1691) was an Anglo-Irish natural philosopher, noted for his work in physics and chemistry. Although his research and personal philosophy clearly has its roots in the alchemical tradition, he is largely regarded today as the first modern chemist and among his works The Sceptical Chymist is seen as a cornerstone book in the field of chemistry.

Middle years

Returning to England in 1644 he found that his father was dead and had left him the manor of Stalbridge in Dorset, together with estates in Ireland. From that time he gave up his life to study and scientific research, and soon took a prominent place in the band of inquirers, known as the "Invisible College," who devoted themselves to the cultivation of the "new philosophy." They met frequently in London, often at Gresham College; some of the members also had meetings at Oxford, and in that city Boyle went to reside in 1654. Reading in 1657 of Otto von Guericke's air-pump, he set himself with the assistance of Robert Hooke to devise improvements in its construction, and with the result, the "machina Boyleana" or "Pneumatical Engine," finished in 1659, he began a series of experiments on the properties of air. An inscription can be found on the wall of University College, Oxford in the High Street at Oxford:

Related Topics:
1644 - Stalbridge - Dorset - Ireland - Scientific - Invisible College - Gresham College - Oxford - Otto von Guericke - Robert Hooke - University College, Oxford

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In a house on this site

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

between 1655 and 1668 lived

Related Topics:
1655 - 1668

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ROBERT BOYLE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Here he discovered BOYLE'S LAW

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

and made experiments with an

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

AIR PUMP designed by his assistant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ROBERT HOOKE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Inventor Scientist and Architect

Related Topics:
Inventor - Scientist - Architect

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

who made a MICROSCOPE

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

and thereby first identified

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

the LIVING CELL

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An account of the work he did with this instrument was published in 1660 under the title New Experiments Physico-Mechanical. Among the critics of the views put forward in this book was a Jesuit, Franciscus Linus (1595-1675), and it was while answering his objections that Boyle enunciated the law that the volume of a gas varies inversely as the pressure, which among English-speaking peoples is usually called after his name, though on the continent of Europe it is attributed to Edme Mariotte, who did not publish it till 1676. In 1663 the Invisible College became the Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, and the charter of incorporation granted by Charles II of England, named Boyle a member of the council. In 1680 he was elected president of the society, but declined the honour from a scruple about oaths.

Related Topics:
Jesuit - Franciscus Linus - Edme Mariotte - Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge - Charles II of England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1668 he left Oxford for London where he resided at the house of his sister, Lady Ranelagh, in Pall Mall.

Related Topics:
London - Pall Mall

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~