Chemistry and the Law

by Harold Goldwhite

Humphry Davy, perhaps the most romantic of all 19th century chemists, died on May 29, 1829, in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 50. Why the most romantic? Look at any portrait of Davy in his prime: the handsome face, the wavy hair, and the superb public manner. And he was also a poet, esteemed by Coleridge. All this and a great chemist, too. Yes, a romantic figure.

Humphry Davy was born in Penzance, Cornwall, England (the Pirate city) on December 17, 1778. His origins were humble; his father was a wood carver, but descended from yeomen stock, and Humphry, the oldest of five children, was sent first to a small local school to learn his letters, and then to Penzance Grammar School where he mastered the conventional classical curriculum including Latin. He wrote verses, told stories, took up fishing (a major Penzance trade) and hunting, and even dabbled in practical chemistry, devising his own fireworks. At age 14 he transferred to the superior Truro – the county town- Grammar School at the expense of a family friend. He did well, but left the school when he reached 16 years of age.

A year later Humphry’s father died and in early 1795 the boy was apprenticed to an apothecary-surgeon. A document Davy drafted at that time outlined his ambitious program of studies which included, under the heading of “My Profession” Botany, Pharmacy, Nosology, Anatomy, Surgery, and Chemistry. He also proposed to learn English, French, Latin, Greek, Italian, Spanish, and Hebrew! And, as if that were not enough, he planned a comprehensive course in physics and mathematics.

Davy was befriended by a French surgeon, and for the first time was able to use scientific instruments. He began to study Lavoisier’s “Elements of Chemistry” in French, aided by William Nicholson’s “Dictionary of Chemistry” and became acquainted with Gregory Watt, son of James Watt, who was convalescing in Cornwall, and with whom he discussed theories of heat – Lavoisier’s caloric. A local Member of Parliament, Davies Giddy – later Davies Gilbert- met Davy and aided him with the loan of books and with introductions to others with scientific interests. Through Giddy Davy met Thomas Beddoes, a lecturer in chemistry at Oxford University, who had established a Pneumatic Institute at Bristol for the study of the use of newly discovered gases in the treatment of diseases. Impressed by Davy and by an article Davy had written on heat and respiration Beddoes invited Davy to become his assistant at the Institute and in October 1798 Davy moved to Bristol.

In Bristol, using himself as a guinea pig, Davy undertook “heroic” (and foolhardy!) experiments on the effects of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, was much more instructive. “I felt a sense of tangible extension highly pleasurable ….I lost all connection with external things….I imagined I made discoveries.” Davy was captivated by this new recreational drug. For some months he breathed the gas at least several times a week. Davy published the results of his researches in a book which brought him to the attention of both scientists and the public. In it he made a prescient suggestion which was not followed up for several decades: “As nitrous oxide …appears capable of destroying pain it may probably be used with advantage during surgical operations…”

It was in 1800 that the Royal Society published Volta’s famous letter on the discovery of current electricity; Beddoes and Davy were convinced that electricity would yield great discoveries in chemistry and built a large battery. But Davy was soon to be called to a new, brilliant appointment, where he could continue his work on electrochemistry.

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