1791-1867, natural philosopher; scientific adviser, English; British

1805 - indentured for seven years to Riebau as an apprentice bookbinder.

1813 - became laboratory assistant at the Royal Institution.

1821 - discovered electromagnetic rotations.

1825 - discovered a new compound of hydrogen and carbon which he named bicarburet of hydrogen later renamed benzine.

1826 - establiashed the Christmas lectures for children at the Royal Institution.

1829 - secured the professorship of chemistry at the Royal Military Academy.

1831 - discovered electromagnetic induction. 1836 - built what is now known as the ‘Faraday cage’.

1842 - accepted membership of the Prussian order of merit.

1855 - accepted membership of the French Légion d'honneur.

1866 - received the Albert medal from the Society of Arts.