George Clymer
American politician (1739-1813)
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
Joseph Priestley was an influential English scientist, philosopher, and theologian who lived in the 18th century. He made groundbreaking discoveries in chemistry, including the independent discovery of oxygen, and was a passionate advocate for religious and political liberalism. Despite facing controversy and persecution, Priestley’s contributions to science, education, and political thought continue to be celebrated today.
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Timothy Priestley
Mary Priestley
Joseph Priestley was an English chemist, Unitarian, natural philosopher, separatist theologian, grammarian, multi-subject educator and classical liberal political theorist. He published over 150 works, and conducted experiments in several areas of science.
Priestley is credited with his independent discovery of oxygen by the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide, having isolated it in 1774. During his lifetime, Priestley’s considerable scientific reputation rested on his invention of carbonated water, his writings on electricity, and his discovery of several “airs” (gases), the most famous being what Priestley dubbed “dephlogisticated air” (oxygen). Priestley’s determination to defend phlogiston theory and to reject what would become the chemical revolution eventually left him isolated within the scientific community.
Priestley’s science was integral to his theology, and he consistently tried to fuse Enlightenment rationalism with Christian theism. In his metaphysical texts, Priestley attempted to combine theism, materialism, and determinism, a project that has been called “audacious and original”. He believed that a proper understanding of the natural world would promote human progress and eventually bring about the Christian millennium. Priestley, who strongly believed in the free and open exchange of ideas, advocated toleration and equal rights for religious Dissenters, which also led him to help found Unitarianism in England. The controversial nature of Priestley’s publications, combined with his outspoken support of the American Revolution and later the French Revolution, aroused public and governmental contempt; eventually forcing him to flee in 1791, first to London and then to the United States, after a mob burned down his Birmingham home and church. He spent his last ten years in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
A scholar and teacher throughout his life, Priestley made significant contributions to pedagogy, including the publication of a seminal work on English grammar and books on history; he prepared some of the most influential early timelines. The educational writings were among Priestley’s most popular works. Arguably his metaphysical works, however, had the most lasting influence, as now considered primary sources for utilitarianism by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer.
Joseph Priestley is credited with the independent discovery of oxygen, which he isolated in 1774 through the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide. He also invented carbonated water and discovered several other gases, including what he called ,dephlogisticated air, (oxygen).
Priestley’s science was closely tied to his Unitarian theology and liberal political views. He tried to reconcile Enlightenment rationalism with Christian theism, and he advocated for religious tolerance and equal rights for Dissenters, which led him to help establish Unitarianism in England.
Priestley’s controversial publications, his outspoken support for the American and French revolutions, and his rejection of the emerging chemical revolution eventually led to public and governmental contempt. This forced him to flee England in 1791, first to London and then to the United States.
Throughout his life, Priestley was a dedicated scholar and teacher. He made significant contributions to pedagogy, including publishing a seminal work on English grammar and influential books on history. His educational writings were among his most popular works.
Priestley’s metaphysical works, which attempted to combine theism, materialism, and determinism, had a lasting influence and are considered primary sources for utilitarianism by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer.
After fleeing England in 1791, Joseph Priestley spent the last ten years of his life in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
Despite his groundbreaking discoveries, Priestley’s determination to defend the phlogiston theory and reject the emerging chemical revolution eventually left him isolated within the scientific community during his lifetime.
Could we have entered into the mind of Sir Isaac Newton, and have traced all the steps by which he produced his great works, we might see nothing very extraordinary in the process.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
What I have known with respect to myself, has tended much to lessen both my admiration, and my contempt, of others.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
Like its politicians and its war, society has the teenagers it deserves.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
We should like to have some towering geniuses, to reveal us to ourselves in color and fire, but of course they would have to fit into the pattern of our society and be able to take orders from sound administrative types.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
Every man, when he comes to be sensible of his natural rights, and to feel his own importance, will consider himself as fully equal to any other person whatever.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
It is no use speaking in soft, gentle tones if everyone else is shouting.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
Will is nothing more than a particular case of the general doctrine of association of ideas, and therefore a perfectly mechanical thing.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)
As we read the school reports on our children, we realize a sense of relief that can rise to delight that thank Heaven nobody is reporting in this fashion on us.
English chemist, theologian, educator, and political theorist (1733-1804)