Michael Faraday was born on 22 September 1791 in Newington Butts, then in Surrey and now part of the London area near Elephant and Castle. From a bookbinder’s apprentice with little formal schooling, he became one of the nineteenth century’s most influential experimental scientists.
When and where was Michael Faraday born?
Faraday’s birth date was 22 September 1791. The Royal Institution identifies his birthplace as Newington Butts and describes it as near modern-day Elephant and Castle in London. A Royal Society catalogue record independently gives the same date and place.
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How did Faraday get his start?
From a blacksmith’s family to bookbinding
Faraday was the son of a blacksmith and received what he later recalled as an ordinary education, limited largely to reading, writing and arithmetic at a common school. In a recollection quoted in an 1868 Royal Society memorial, he described his schooling as: “My education was of the most ordinary description, consisting of little more than the rudiments of reading, writing, and arithmetic at a common day-school.”
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAt 14, he began an apprenticeship with bookbinder George Riebau, which the Royal Institution dates to 1805–1812. Handling books gave him access to scientific ideas, and he read them alongside his work.
From lecture notes to the Royal Institution
Faraday attended lectures by chemist Humphry Davy, made notes, and sent them to Davy while seeking a position. In 1813, Davy hired him as a chemical assistant at the Royal Institution. That appointment gave Faraday an entry into scientific work, where his experimental ability would become central to his career.
What did Michael Faraday discover?
Faraday’s discoveries and experiments helped shape the study of electricity, magnetism and chemistry. The Royal Institution documents a range of contributions; they should not be reduced to a claim that he single-handedly invented modern electrical technology.
Rank #2
| Year | Contribution | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1821 | Electromagnetic rotations | Experiments in which electrical and magnetic forces produced continuous motion; associated with the development of the electric motor. |
| 1825 | Discovery of benzene | A significant contribution to chemistry and the study of organic compounds. |
| 1831 | Electromagnetic induction | Demonstrated that changing magnetic conditions can produce an electric current, a foundational finding in electromagnetism. |
| 1845 | Magneto-optical effect and diamagnetism | Extended experimental understanding of how magnetic fields relate to light and materials. |
Faraday also made important contributions to electrolysis. Taken together, this work shows the breadth of his experimental research across chemistry, electricity, magnetism and light.
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Faraday was not only a researcher. He helped establish the Royal Institution’s Friday Evening Discourses and Christmas Lectures, presenting scientific ideas to public audiences. He delivered 19 series of Christmas Lectures, helping make science accessible beyond specialist circles.
Rank #3
- Used Book in Good Condition
His best-known lecture series, A Course of Six Lectures on the Chemical History of a Candle, used a familiar everyday object to explain chemical principles. William Crookes edited and published the lecture text in 1861. The Royal Institution also lists Faraday’s Experimental Researches in Electricity in three volumes published in 1837, 1844 and 1855.
Quick Recap
Faraday’s life in brief
- 22 September 1791: Born in Newington Butts.
- 1805–1812: Apprenticed to bookbinder George Riebau.
- 1813: Joined the Royal Institution as a chemical assistant.
- 1821: Conducted experiments on electromagnetic rotations.
- 1825: Discovered benzene.
- 1831: Demonstrated electromagnetic induction.
- 1845: Investigated the magneto-optical effect and diamagnetism.
- 25 August 1867: Died at Hampton Court.
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