William Hyde Wollaston was born in East Dereham, Norfolk, England on August 6, 1766. His father was Francis Wollaston, a priest and an astronomer, and his mother was Mary Farquier. He was one of seventeen children.
Wollaston studied at Cambridge University and received his medical degree in 1793. While at Cambridge, he developed a passion for chemistry, geology, and physics. He practiced medicine at Bury St. Edmonds, but soon after moved to London. In London, he attempted and failed to get a position at St. George’s hospital. Upon the rejection, he gave up medicine for independent research.
Wollaston is most famous for his research in the area of chemistry and geology. He earned his wealth early on for developing an economical procedure for extracting platinum from ore. In the process of creating the new technique, he discovered the elements rhodium and palladium.
For his work in geology, the mineral wollastonite was named in Wollaston’s honor. The Wollaston Medal is also named for him and is the most important award given out by the Geological Society of London.
In 1801, Wollaston discovered that static electricity from friction is the same as other types of electricity. Later in his life, he attempted to create an electric motor, but was unsuccessful. His studies did, however, pave the way for the successful development of the motor by Michael Faraday. Controversy followed Faraday’s work when he refused to acknowledge Wollaston’s contributions to his work.
In addition to chemistry and electricity, Wollaston also worked with optics. He was the first to observe, although not explain Fraunhofer lines in the visual spectrum of the sun. The consequent study of the lines led to the elucidation of elements that make up the sun. He invented the camera lucida, the Wollaston prism, and the reflecting goniometer. He created the best lens at the time for camera obscuras. Called the meniscus lens, it improved the image created by cameras by correcting distortion caused by conventional biconvex lenses.
Wollaston was a Fellow of the Royal Society and at various times the secretary and president. Aside from his contact with other scientists in the Society, Wollaston largely kept to himself. He lived alone and spent most of his time in conducting research. He allowed no one in his laboratory at any time and worked entirely alone. He died on December 22, 1828 in London.
Image: Painting of William Hyde Wollaston, the scientist. |