Famous Irish Scientists

By Colm O'Brien

Explore the rich history of Irish scientists with this handy and insightful book. Uncovering the impactful contributions of selected Irish scientists – both past and present – who have produced scientific theories, discoveries, and innovations that have left a lasting mark on the world. Offering an essential and concise overview of their scientific achievements, this book highlights the important and enduring legacies of twenty famous Irish Scientists.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Madra Rua Publishing
• Release date: Jan 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798224750405

Book preview

Famous Irish Scientists

Irish Scientists Who Changed The World

"The book of nature is a fine and large piece of tapestry rolled up, which we are not able to see all at once, but must be content to wait for the discovery of its beauty, and symmetry, little by little, as it gradually comes to be more and more unfolded, or displayed."

— Robert Boyle

Copyright © 2020 Colm O'Brien

Madra Rua Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

Preface

Ireland has a rich heritage of science and research, invention and discovery, having given the world countless discoveries and inventions, contributed to numerous scientific breakthroughs down the centuries, and played it's part in the great human endeavour to understand the world.

In the decades following the establishment of Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 1592,  'Science' was studied as the discipline of 'natural philosophy', including chemistry, physics, natural history, philosophy and medicine.

Following the Dublin Philosophical Society's establishment in 1683, Ireland's first scientific institution, science was eagerly embraced. Influenced by Francis Bacon and  Renaissance ideas, Irish scientists began to invent scientific instruments, write books, give public lectures and conduct experiments.

The foundations of Ireland's scientific infrastructures were laid in the 1700s with the Royal Dublin Society (today the Royal Dublin Society, RDS),  and the Royal Irish Academy. In 1785, the Royal Irish Academy began to promote "science, polite literature and antiquities", and interest in original scientific research had begun. However, the great period of Irish science came in the 19th century, with the creation of professional, scientific institutions in 1845, such as Queens' (University) Colleges at Cork, Galway and Belfast, and the Royal College of Science (amalgamated into University College Dublin (UCD) in 1926) in 1867.

Scientists now came from abroad to fill the newly created prestigious university positions, and Ireland began to attract and produce college-educated professional scientists. Although amateurs still dominated natural history, botany and astronomy.

In terms of science, 19th-century Ireland was a hive of activity and success. Irish physicists, in particular, were making outstanding contributions. Public science lectures, exhibitions, science books and encyclopaedias were popular. Irish ideas and inventions won awards at international exhibitions in London, Paris and elsewhere.

However, science required education, and that meant money. Therefore, most of those engaged in science were from the wealthy upper-class and middle-class, mostly from the Protestant tradition. Catholic access to education was limited. Indeed, in the late 1800s, only ten per cent of