Ebenezer Kinnersley
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Kinnersley was a scientist, inventor and lecturer, specializing in the investigation of electricity
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church. Ebenezer became a member of this church while young, and in 1743 was ordained as a minister, but he never served as a pastor. He came to this country with his parents in 1714. His early life was passed at Dublin, and then he went to Philadelphia, where he gave evidence of his genius as a scholar and mechanician. It is supposed that he taught a school there and associated with Benjamin Franklin
, who soon learned to appreciate young Kinnersley, whom he designates as “an ingenious neighbor.”
When Franklin saw Dr. Spence, a Scotchman in Boston
, experiment with a glass tube and silk, and observed the effects that were produced, he communicated the fact to his associates in Philadelphia, and soon a hundred tubes were in use. Among those who devoted special attention to the subject were Franklin, Kinnersley, Philip Syng
, and Thomas Hopkinson
. Kinnersley devoted all his time to the subject, and in a couple of years the discoveries that were made were such as to astound the learned of Europe, to whom they were communicated by Franklin in his letters to the well-known Peter Collinson, of London, by whom they were published. It was thus that “The Philadelphia experiments” became known and the names of Franklin and Kinnersley were prominently associated with them and the discoveries that were made.
The “electric fire,” as it was then termed, was a subject that engrossed scientific scholars in England and on the continent of Europe, but the Philadelphia philosophers appeared to surpass all in their discoveries. In 1748, Kinnersley demonstrated that the electric fluid actually passed through water, and proved it by a trough ten feet long full of water. He also invented the “magical picture” referred to by the Abbé Nollet, and produced the ringing of chimes of bells. In 1751 he began delivering lectures on “The Newly Discovered Electrical Fire” — the first of the kind in America or Europe. His advertisement in the “Pennsylvania Gazette” of 11 April 1751, is as follows: “Notice is hereby given to the Curious, that Wednesday next, Mr. Kinnersley proposes to begin a course of experiments on the newly discovered Electrical Fire, containing not only the most curious of those that have been made and published in Europe, but a considerable number of new ones lately made in this city, to be accompanied with methodical Lectures on the nature and properties of that wonderful element.” These lectures proved a complete success, and were attended by persons of all classes.
In September 1751, he went to Boston with a letter from Franklin to Gov. James Bowdoin
, and delivered his lectures in Faneuil Hall
. The governor said they “were pleasing to all sorts of people and were very curious.” While at Boston, Kinnersley continued his experiments and discovered the difference between the electricity that was produced by the glass and sulphur globes, which he at once communicated to Franklin at Philadelphia. Until then the theory of Du Fay as to the vitreous and resinous electricity was generally adopted, but now Kinnersley showed beyond a doubt that the positive and negative theory was correct.
From Boston, Kinnersley went to Newport, Rhode Island
, and, in March 1752, repeated his lectures there and suggested how houses and barns might be protected from lightning. This was three months before the time that Franklin drew the electricity from the clouds. He then visited New York and lectured on the subject. In 1753, Kinnersley was elected chief master in the College of Philadelphia, and in 1755 he was appointed professor of English and oratory, holding the office until 1772, when, owing to failing health, he resigned.
Kinnersley continued his experiments, invented an electrical thermometer
, and proved that heat could be produced by electricity, which was not known before. In 1764, he published a syllabus of his lectures on electricity, a copy of which is in the Philadelphia Public Library. This pamphlet gave in detail most of the experiments that he performed, among others an orrery propelled by electricity; and he suggested that perhaps the solar system might be sustained in the same way. In the United States
, he was better known than Franklin, and even in Europe his name was very frequently mentioned, as may be seen in Joseph Priestley
's History of Electricity, and in a volume published by the Abbé Beccaria
of the University of Turin
.
The American Philosophical Society
chose him as a member, and the degree of M.A.
was conferred upon him by the College of Philadelphia.
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
.
Biography
He was a son of Rev. William Kinnersley, an assistant pastor of the Lower Dublin BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
church. Ebenezer became a member of this church while young, and in 1743 was ordained as a minister, but he never served as a pastor. He came to this country with his parents in 1714. His early life was passed at Dublin, and then he went to Philadelphia, where he gave evidence of his genius as a scholar and mechanician. It is supposed that he taught a school there and associated with Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, who soon learned to appreciate young Kinnersley, whom he designates as “an ingenious neighbor.”
When Franklin saw Dr. Spence, a Scotchman in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, experiment with a glass tube and silk, and observed the effects that were produced, he communicated the fact to his associates in Philadelphia, and soon a hundred tubes were in use. Among those who devoted special attention to the subject were Franklin, Kinnersley, Philip Syng
Philip Syng
Philip Syng was, like his namesake father, a renowned silversmith who created fine works in silver and sometimes gold for the rich families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also created the Syng inkstand, which was used to sign the United States Declaration of Independence.He was a member of...
, and Thomas Hopkinson
Thomas Hopkinson
Thomas Hopkinson was a lawyer, public official, and prominent figure in colonial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. Kinnersley devoted all his time to the subject, and in a couple of years the discoveries that were made were such as to astound the learned of Europe, to whom they were communicated by Franklin in his letters to the well-known Peter Collinson, of London, by whom they were published. It was thus that “The Philadelphia experiments” became known and the names of Franklin and Kinnersley were prominently associated with them and the discoveries that were made.
The “electric fire,” as it was then termed, was a subject that engrossed scientific scholars in England and on the continent of Europe, but the Philadelphia philosophers appeared to surpass all in their discoveries. In 1748, Kinnersley demonstrated that the electric fluid actually passed through water, and proved it by a trough ten feet long full of water. He also invented the “magical picture” referred to by the Abbé Nollet, and produced the ringing of chimes of bells. In 1751 he began delivering lectures on “The Newly Discovered Electrical Fire” — the first of the kind in America or Europe. His advertisement in the “Pennsylvania Gazette” of 11 April 1751, is as follows: “Notice is hereby given to the Curious, that Wednesday next, Mr. Kinnersley proposes to begin a course of experiments on the newly discovered Electrical Fire, containing not only the most curious of those that have been made and published in Europe, but a considerable number of new ones lately made in this city, to be accompanied with methodical Lectures on the nature and properties of that wonderful element.” These lectures proved a complete success, and were attended by persons of all classes.
In September 1751, he went to Boston with a letter from Franklin to Gov. James Bowdoin
James Bowdoin
James Bowdoin II was an American political and intellectual leader from Boston, Massachusetts during the American Revolution. He served in both branches of the Massachusetts General Court in the colonial era and was president of the state's constitutional convention...
, and delivered his lectures in Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall , located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of...
. The governor said they “were pleasing to all sorts of people and were very curious.” While at Boston, Kinnersley continued his experiments and discovered the difference between the electricity that was produced by the glass and sulphur globes, which he at once communicated to Franklin at Philadelphia. Until then the theory of Du Fay as to the vitreous and resinous electricity was generally adopted, but now Kinnersley showed beyond a doubt that the positive and negative theory was correct.
From Boston, Kinnersley went to Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, and, in March 1752, repeated his lectures there and suggested how houses and barns might be protected from lightning. This was three months before the time that Franklin drew the electricity from the clouds. He then visited New York and lectured on the subject. In 1753, Kinnersley was elected chief master in the College of Philadelphia, and in 1755 he was appointed professor of English and oratory, holding the office until 1772, when, owing to failing health, he resigned.
Kinnersley continued his experiments, invented an electrical thermometer
Thermometer
Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer is a device that measures temperature or temperature gradient using a variety of different principles. A thermometer has two important elements: the temperature sensor Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer (from the...
, and proved that heat could be produced by electricity, which was not known before. In 1764, he published a syllabus of his lectures on electricity, a copy of which is in the Philadelphia Public Library. This pamphlet gave in detail most of the experiments that he performed, among others an orrery propelled by electricity; and he suggested that perhaps the solar system might be sustained in the same way. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he was better known than Franklin, and even in Europe his name was very frequently mentioned, as may be seen in Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley
Joseph Priestley, FRS was an 18th-century English theologian, Dissenting clergyman, natural philosopher, chemist, educator, and political theorist who published over 150 works...
's History of Electricity, and in a volume published by the Abbé Beccaria
Giovanni Battista Beccaria
Giovanni Battista Beccaria , Italian physicist, was born at Mondovì, and entered the religious order of the Pious Schools in 1732, where he studied, and afterward taught, grammar and rhetoric...
of the University of Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
.
The American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
chose him as a member, and the degree of M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
was conferred upon him by the College of Philadelphia.