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Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

(1778-1829), Natural philosopher

Regency Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 20 portraits
Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution, 1802-13. Davy undertook groundbreaking work with gases and electrolysis and in 1807 he demonstrated the existence of potassium, sodium and chlorine with a galvanic battery. He also experimented with diamond combustion and invented the miner's safety lamp in 1815, becoming President of the Royal Society 1820-7. From his close friends Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey he absorbed the concept of 'Romantic genius', to which he aspired. With charm and entrepreneurial flair, he joined a new breed of celebrity scientists. His experiments at the Royal Institution were so charismatic that they became social events. Witnessing these, Mary Shelley took Davy as the model for Dr Frankenstein, the scientist who holds a terrifying secret of life-giving power.

More on Sir Humphry Davy: The Romantic Poets and their Circle book in our Shops

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Henry Howard - NPG 4591

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Henry Howard
oil on canvas, 1803
NPG 4591

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by John Jackson - NPG 1794

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by John Jackson
watercolour, circa 1820
NPG 1794

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Thomas Phillips - NPG 2546

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Thomas Phillips
oil on canvas, 1821
NPG 2546

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, after Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG 1573

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

after Sir Thomas Lawrence
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1821
NPG 1573

Men of Science Living in 1807-8, by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds) - NPG 1075

Men of Science Living in 1807-8

by Sir John Gilbert, and Frederick John Skill, and William Walker, and Elizabeth Walker (née Reynolds)
pencil and wash, 1858-1862
NPG 1075

Engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', by George Zobel, and William Walker - NPG 1075a

Engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8'

by George Zobel, and William Walker
engraving, 1862
NPG 1075a

Key to engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8', by William Walker - NPG 1075b

Key to engraving after 'Men of Science Living in 1807-8'

by William Walker
engraving, 1862
NPG 1075b

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Albert Bruce-Joy - NPG 1273

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Albert Bruce-Joy
plaster cast of medallion, 1876
NPG 1273

'Scientific researches! - new discoveries in pneumaticks! - or - an experimental lecture on the powers of air', by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey - NPG D13036

'Scientific researches! - new discoveries in pneumaticks! - or - an experimental lecture on the powers of air'

by James Gillray, published by Hannah Humphrey
hand-coloured etching, published 23 May 1802
NPG D13036

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Samuel William Reynolds, after Thomas Phillips - NPG D1731

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Samuel William Reynolds, after Thomas Phillips
mezzotint
NPG D1731

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Samuel William Reynolds, after Thomas Phillips - NPG D1732

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Samuel William Reynolds, after Thomas Phillips
mezzotint, published 1822 (1821)
NPG D1732

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by William Henry Worthington, published by Agnew & Zanetti, and published by Rudolph Ackermann, after James Lonsdale - NPG D34825

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by William Henry Worthington, published by Agnew & Zanetti, and published by Rudolph Ackermann, after James Lonsdale
line engraving, published March 1827
NPG D34825

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by William Henry Worthington, published by Agnew & Zanetti, and published by Rudolph Ackermann, after James Lonsdale - NPG D34826

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by William Henry Worthington, published by Agnew & Zanetti, and published by Rudolph Ackermann, after James Lonsdale
line engraving, published March 1827
NPG D34826

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by G.R. Newton, after Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D9103

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by G.R. Newton, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
line engraving, published 1830
NPG D9103

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by and published by William Walker, after John Jackson - NPG D34823

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by and published by William Walker, after John Jackson
stipple engraving, published 1 June 1830 (circa 1820)
NPG D34823

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by and published by William Walker, after John Jackson - NPG D20065

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by and published by William Walker, after John Jackson
stipple engraving, published 1 June 1830 (circa 1820)
NPG D20065

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by William Henry Worthington, after Sir Thomas Lawrence - NPG D34824

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by William Henry Worthington, after Sir Thomas Lawrence
line engraving, published 1831
NPG D34824

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Charles Turner, after Henry Howard - NPG D1729

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Charles Turner, after Henry Howard
mezzotint, published 1835
NPG D1729

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt, by Charles Turner, after Henry Howard - NPG D1730

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Charles Turner, after Henry Howard
mezzotint, published 1835
NPG D1730

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Sir Humphry Davy, Bt

by Samuel William Reynolds, published by and after Thomas Phillips
mezzotint, published 1822 (1821)
NPG D20426

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Place

Cornwall

Links

Sir Humphry Davy, Bt in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

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