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Henry Cavendish

(1731-1810), Physicist

Mid-Georgian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 4 portraits
Henry Cavendish was the outstanding natural philosopher of his time. A retiring young man, he joined the Royal Society in 1758. He was elected a Fellow shortly thereafter and joined the Society's dining club. He was profoundly respected by his contemporaries in the Society and was elected to its Council in 1765. In 1764 he started conducting scientific experiments and his first paper was published two years later. These experiments covered many areas of physics, chemistry and electrical forces and many remained unpublished during his lifetime. He discovered the constitutions of water and air and is credited with the earliest accurate calculation of the force of gravity.

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Men of Science Living in 1807-8, by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds) - NPG 1075Men of Science Living in 1807-8
by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds)
NPG 1075
Engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', by George Zobel, and William Walker - NPG 1075aEngraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8'
by George Zobel, and William Walker
NPG 1075a
Key to engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', by William Walker - NPG 1075bKey to engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8'
by William Walker
NPG 1075b
Henry Cavendish, probably by Christian Rosenberg, published by John Weale, after William Alexander - NPG D16591Henry Cavendish
probably by Christian Rosenberg, published by John Weale, after William Alexander
NPG D16591

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