Chichester Bell
Encyclopedia
Chichester A. Bell was a chemist, cousin to Alexander Graham Bell
, and instrumental in developing improved versions of the phonograph
.
, the renowned elocutionist and scholar.
Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., Chichester was Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University College London
. In 1881 Chichester Bell began working with his famous cousin Alexander Graham Bell and their associate Charles Tainter on addressing the drawbacks to Thomas Edison
's phonograph
.
The three men created the Volta Laboratory Association to be the holder of their patents. Their successful development of the Graphophone
led to the formation of the Volta Graphophone Company of Alexandria, Virginia
in February 1886 by the principals, along with Chichester's brother, lawyer and banker, Charles B. Bell (born 1858). While living in Washington, D.C.
, Chichester Bell was one of the founding members of the Chemical Society of Washington.
He then returned to University College, London to continue his scientific research. In 1887, he published "Sympathetic Vibration of Jets" in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
.
He was awarded the John Scott Medal of The Franklin Institute in 1900. He married Antoinette Ives in 1889, in Montreal, Canada and died at Radcliffe Infirmary, St Giles, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 11 March, 1924.
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
, and instrumental in developing improved versions of the phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
.
Life
Chichester Bell was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1848 to David Charles Bell (1817–1903) and Ellen Adine Highland. David Bell was a brother of Alexander Melville BellAlexander Melville Bell
Alexander Melville Bell was a teacher and researcher of physiological phonetics and was the author of numerous works on orthoepy and elocution....
, the renowned elocutionist and scholar.
Prior to arriving in Washington, D.C., Chichester was Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. In 1881 Chichester Bell began working with his famous cousin Alexander Graham Bell and their associate Charles Tainter on addressing the drawbacks to Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
's phonograph
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
.
The three men created the Volta Laboratory Association to be the holder of their patents. Their successful development of the Graphophone
Graphophone
The Graphophone was the name and trademark of an improved version of the phonograph invented at the Volta Laboratory established by Alexander Graham Bell in Washington, D.C....
led to the formation of the Volta Graphophone Company of Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
in February 1886 by the principals, along with Chichester's brother, lawyer and banker, Charles B. Bell (born 1858). While living in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Chichester Bell was one of the founding members of the Chemical Society of Washington.
He then returned to University College, London to continue his scientific research. In 1887, he published "Sympathetic Vibration of Jets" in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
.
He was awarded the John Scott Medal of The Franklin Institute in 1900. He married Antoinette Ives in 1889, in Montreal, Canada and died at Radcliffe Infirmary, St Giles, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 11 March, 1924.