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John Frederic Daniell was born in London in 1790. He is one of the most famous self-taught polymaths of the world and renowned as the inventor of the Daniell Cell. The invention of the Daniell Cell was a great improvement over the voltaic pile batteries of the time.
Technology used in the early days of battery development took a new direction after the invention of the Daniell Cell. In 1860s, another scientist invented the gravity cell which is actually a variant of the Daniell cell. This gravity cell, also known as crowfoot cell, became a popular choice for electrical telegraphy.
John Frederic Daniell singlehandedly contributed a lot to meteorological and climatological research. He was a very popular professor at King’s College in London and well known for his meticulous habits of observation and experiment.
Here is a list of top 7 interesting facts about Daniell:
1. Daniell was elected to the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science, when he was just 24!
2. He became interested in chemistry while working in a sugar-refining factory.
3. Daniel also invented the dew-point hydrometer.
4. The contemporary definition of the volt was primarily developed based on the concept of the Daniell cell.
5. He was the first professor of chemistry at King’s College London.
6. Daniell Crater, a lunar impact crater located in the southern half of the Lacus Somniorum, is named in his honour.
7. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate by the University of Oxford not for Chemistry but for Civil Law!
This super scientist died in 1845 during a meeting of the Royal Society.
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