Story of Michael Faraday | The Father of Electricity

In the second episode of 'Stories of the Great Minds', we talk about Michael Faraday, aka the architect of the modern world. This is the story of a man who didn't even enjoy half of the academic privileges that you have got access to but still went on to become one of the most celebrated scientists of his time, purely obliging to his curiosity.

On September 22,1791, little Michael was born to a poor family of a blacksmith in a small village named Newington Butts. Due to poor financial conditions, he along with his family used to face a lot of hardships. Sometimes, the whole family had to survive on a piece of the loaf for the whole week. These circumstances made Faraday not receive much formal education and eventually he had to finish school when he was just 13. A year later, he became an apprentice to Mr. Riebeau who was a local bookbinder and this is when and where Faraday found his passion. There he got to read a number of books, with the "Conversations on Chemistry by Jane Marcet" being his favorite one.

These books changed his life, they inspired him to explore further and further. Catering to his curiosity aroused by reading, he often went to attend lectures at the Royal Institution by eminent scientist Sir Humphrey Davy. Micheal made notes of all the lectures that Davy delivered, compiled them into a book of 300 pages, and presented them to him. Davy got so impressed with Faraday that in 1813 when Davy damaged his eyesight in an accident, he decided to employ Faraday as his assistant. This is how Faraday got a major break where he could now learn things form his idol himself.

With each passing day, new ideas struck Faraday's mind. Faraday discovered two new compounds of chlorine and carbon.
He invented an early form of the Bunsen burner and also discovered benzene which he called bicarburet of hydrogen. However, the first breakthrough discovery of his life took place in 1821. In 1821, Faraday showed that electrical energy can be converted into mechanical energy by performing experiments that now form the foundation of modern electromagnetic technology.

Faraday kept on experimenting with his ideas and eventually, another breakthrough in his life came 10 years later in 1831. This time he came up with his phenomenon of electromagnetic induction which not only established the relationship between electric current and magnetism but also served as a basic principle in the construction of the electric dynamo, the ancestor of modern power generators and the electric motor.

Faraday demonstrated that the charge resides only on the exterior of a charged conductor, and the exterior charge had no influence on anything enclosed within a conductor. This lead to the discovery of what we now call a Faraday cage. Not only this, "Faraday: the father of electricity", also made some noteworthy contributions in the field of diamagnetism, polymer chemistry, and electrochemistry. His experiments and inventions laid the foundations for scientific metallurgy and metallography.

For his remarkable contributions to science and society, Faraday earned numerous accolades in his lifetime. Faraday became the first and foremost Fullerian Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution. The SI unit of capacitance is named in his honor: the farad. Over the years, numerous great personalities have penned down heaps of appreciation for him.

Looking at all of his extraordinary achievements and brilliance, there's no doubt why Albert Einstein had kept a picture of Faraday on his study wall, alongside pictures of Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell. Moreover physicist Ernest Rutherford also once stated; "When we consider the magnitude and extent of his discoveries and their influence on the progress of science and of industry, there is no honor too great to pay to the memory of Faraday, one of the greatest scientific discoverers of all time"
and we cannot agree more on this!

[mihirkumar]

One of the greatest mind ever. My inspiration, ideal and influencer Sir Faraday.

[miteshpatel]

Superb... Thank You So Much for the Knowledge. *Jai Hind, Vande Mataram.*
💪🇮🇳🇮🇳♥️🇮🇳🇮🇳

[ashurisann]

Faraday is what we call a legendary scientist. Even if he's gone for a long time, his story does not fail to inspire people🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[dhuramc-qonz]

Respect to Mrs Faraday for realizing his talent and seeing his potential. Very supportive wife and pillar of strength.

[craigaxle]

What? The family sometimes had to survive on one loaf of bread for a whole week?.Man, I'm blessed.

[khyati]

The legacy was transferred from one legend to another and each time they created more awesome brains .... Respect for teachers ...

[PakistanIcecream]

Micheal Faraday was nothing short to a literal super genius. He was perhaps the greatest genius of the 2nd millennium in the world.

[AjayKumar-vxff]

Your work is amazing ...keep doing it ...thank you

[nabil.c]

I teared, am I the only one?

Good job, but I feel we can go more into details about his work, not too much details to get it difficult to understand, but enough to have an idea.

[dinakaran]

Very very nice, thank you very much 😊😊

[pruthwirajsanibigraha]

Sir Michael Faraday, one who the personality inspires me highly. Really his personality is very curious.

[gauravpatil]

very very thankfull to your all team. you are doing great work .

[bradysgrl]

Can you tell me the name of the song that is playing? I love piano music.

[douglasstrother]

The collaboration between Faraday & Maxwell is sorely under-appreciated.

[RohitYadav-djzu]

I come here every day to feel energetic and determined 🙏🏻🎉💐
Please uploads more like this.. 🙏🏻

[walterdiaz]

Faraday has his name stamped on human civilization to eternity.

[PJANGELES]

And Faraday's grave is in Highgate Cemetery, the headstone is simple and overgrown, it just states Michael Faraday born 22 September 1791, died 25 August 1867 plus a similar inscription for Sarah.

[dynodevil]

Thanks for showing this video and inspiring me
Now i think i know what i need to reach my goals

Thank you

[animeshkumar]

Nice video bro we like more such a knowledge video👍🙏

[afcrdk]

Great video! Very detailed explaining!