George Adams (optician)
Encyclopedia
George Adams Sr was an English
optical
designer and scientific writer who was also well known as a maker of mathematical instrument
s and globe
s. Among his works are a Treatise on the Construction and Use of Globes (1766) and an "Essay on the Microscope" (1771).
. Born in Southampton
he was later appointed Optician
to the Prince of Wales. His instruments included barometer
s, microscope
s, orreries
, sector
s, telescope
s, and a variety of electrical appliances. He also made geographical globe
s.
He also wrote An Essay on Electricity: Explaining the Theory and Practice of that Useful Science, and the Mode of Applying it to Medical Purposes (London, 1784), which ran to four editions in his lifetime. A fifth edition with an appendix about 'Medical Electricity' by John Birch, a surgeon
and author of Della Forza dell'Electricita (Naples, 1778), was published in 1799 with corrections and additions by William Jones
, mathematical instrument maker. Adams presented a general theory of electricity
and, in line with George IIIs interest in the practical applications of science, an essay detailing its possible medical uses. Sections of the book included: Of electricity in general; Of the electrical machine, with directions for exciting it; The properties of electric attraction and repulsion illustrated by experiments with light bodies; Entertaining experiments by the attraction and repulsion of light bodies, with some remarks on electrical attraction; Of the electrical sparks; Of the electrified points; Of the Leyden phial; Of the electrical battery, and the lateral explosion of charged jars; Of the influence of pointed conductors for buildings; To charge a plate of air; Of the electrophorus; Of atmospherical electricity; Of the diffusion and subdivision of fluids by electricity; Of the electric light in vacuo; Of medical electricity; Miscellaneous experiments and observations; An essay on magnetism. The six engraved plates contained 105 figures, mostly illustrating various experimental instruments constructed by Adams, often at the request of the king, and including a frock-coated patient apparently undergoing electrical therapy.
At Adams' death the stock of his unsold books was acquired by the scientific instrument
makers W. and S. Jones. William
and Samuel Jones had a shop at 135 Holborn Hill
, London. The business moved to 30 Holborn in 1800.
A fine example of his work, a mathematical instrument set, is currently on display at the Science Museum (London)
and can also be found in their image archives - see external link below.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
optical
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
designer and scientific writer who was also well known as a maker of mathematical instrument
Mathematical instrument
A mathematical instrument is a tool or device used in the study or practice of mathematics.Most instruments are used within the field of geometry, including the ruler, dividers, protractor, set square, compass, ellipsograph and opisometer...
s and globe
Globe
A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of Earth or other spheroid celestial body such as a planet, star, or moon...
s. Among his works are a Treatise on the Construction and Use of Globes (1766) and an "Essay on the Microscope" (1771).
Biography
His son, George Adams Jr. (1750– August 14, 1795), continued his father's work with his younger brother Dudley, publishing an Essay on Vision (1789) and Astronomical and Geometrical Essays (1789) and succeeding his father as Instrument Maker to King George II and the British East India CompanyBritish East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
. Born in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
he was later appointed Optician
Optician
An optician is a person who is trained to fill prescriptions for eye correction in the field of medicine, also known as a dispensing optician or optician, dispensing...
to the Prince of Wales. His instruments included barometer
Barometer
A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather...
s, microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
s, orreries
Orrery
An orrery is a mechanical device that illustrates the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons in the Solar System in a heliocentric model. Though the Greeks had working planetaria, the first orrery that was a planetarium of the modern era was produced in 1704, and one was presented...
, sector
Sector (instrument)
The sector, also known as a proportional compass or military compass, was a major calculating instrument in use from the end of the sixteenth century until the nineteenth century. It is an instrument consisting of two rulers of equal length which are joined by a hinge. A number of scales are...
s, telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
s, and a variety of electrical appliances. He also made geographical globe
Globe
A globe is a three-dimensional scale model of Earth or other spheroid celestial body such as a planet, star, or moon...
s.
He also wrote An Essay on Electricity: Explaining the Theory and Practice of that Useful Science, and the Mode of Applying it to Medical Purposes (London, 1784), which ran to four editions in his lifetime. A fifth edition with an appendix about 'Medical Electricity' by John Birch, a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and author of Della Forza dell'Electricita (Naples, 1778), was published in 1799 with corrections and additions by William Jones
William Jones (optician)
William Jones was an English maker of optical and other scientific instruments who later formed a partnership with his younger brother Samuel Jones. W. & S. Jones were among the most successful scientific instrument makers in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries...
, mathematical instrument maker. Adams presented a general theory of electricity
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...
and, in line with George IIIs interest in the practical applications of science, an essay detailing its possible medical uses. Sections of the book included: Of electricity in general; Of the electrical machine, with directions for exciting it; The properties of electric attraction and repulsion illustrated by experiments with light bodies; Entertaining experiments by the attraction and repulsion of light bodies, with some remarks on electrical attraction; Of the electrical sparks; Of the electrified points; Of the Leyden phial; Of the electrical battery, and the lateral explosion of charged jars; Of the influence of pointed conductors for buildings; To charge a plate of air; Of the electrophorus; Of atmospherical electricity; Of the diffusion and subdivision of fluids by electricity; Of the electric light in vacuo; Of medical electricity; Miscellaneous experiments and observations; An essay on magnetism. The six engraved plates contained 105 figures, mostly illustrating various experimental instruments constructed by Adams, often at the request of the king, and including a frock-coated patient apparently undergoing electrical therapy.
At Adams' death the stock of his unsold books was acquired by the scientific instrument
Scientific instrument
A scientific instrument can be any type of equipment, machine, apparatus or device as is specifically designed, constructed and often, through trial and error, ingeniously refined to apply utmost efficiency in the utilization of well proven physical principle, relationship or technology to...
makers W. and S. Jones. William
William Jones (optician)
William Jones was an English maker of optical and other scientific instruments who later formed a partnership with his younger brother Samuel Jones. W. & S. Jones were among the most successful scientific instrument makers in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries...
and Samuel Jones had a shop at 135 Holborn Hill
Holborn
Holborn is an area of Central London. Holborn is also the name of the area's principal east-west street, running as High Holborn from St Giles's High Street to Gray's Inn Road and then on to Holborn Viaduct...
, London. The business moved to 30 Holborn in 1800.
A fine example of his work, a mathematical instrument set, is currently on display at the Science Museum (London)
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
and can also be found in their image archives - see external link below.
George Adams, Sr.
- A Treatise Describing The Construction And Explaining The Use Of New Celestial And Terrestrial Globes. Second Edition. (London: 1769)
- A Treatise Describing The Construction And Explaining The Use Of New Celestial And Terrestrial Globes. Fifth Edition. (London: 1782)
George Adams, Jr.
- An Essay on Electricity; in which the Theory and Practice of that Useful Science, are illus by a Variety of Experiments. First Edition. (London: Printed at the Logographic Press for the Author, 1784)
- An Essay on Electricity, explaining The Theory and Practice of that useful Science; and the mode of applying it to Medical Purposes. With an Essay on Magnetism. The Second Edition. Corrected and Considerably Enlarged. (London: Printed at the Logographic Press for the Author, 1785)
- Versuch über die Elektricität, worinn Theorie und Ausübung dieser Wissenschaft durch eine Menge methodisch geordneter Experimente erläutert wird, nebst einem Versuch über den Magnet. Aus dem Englischen, mit sechs Kupfertafeln. First German edition. (Leipzig: Schwickertschen, 1785)
- Versuch über die Elektricität, worinn Theorie und Ausübung dieser Wissenschaft durch eine Menge methodisch geordneter Experimente erläutert wird, nebst einem Versuch über den Magnet [.]. Aus dem Englischen. First Austrian edition. (Vienna, Johann Thomas von Trattner, 1786)
- An Essay On Electricity, Explaining The Theory And Practice Of That Useful Science, And The Mode Of Applying It To Medical Purposes. With An Essay On Magnetism. Third Edition. (London: R. Hindmarsh, 1787)
- Essays on the Microscope. First edition. (London: Robert HindmarshRobert HindmarshRobert Hindmarsh was an English printer and one of the original founders of Swedenborgianism.-Life:He was born at Alnwick, Northumberland, on 8 November 1759. His father, James Hindmarsh, was one of John Wesley's preachers, and was in 1777 under training by Wesley in London; Robert, however, was...
, 1787) - An Essay on Vision, Briefly Explaining the Fabric of the Eye, and the Nature of Vision: Intended for the Service of Those Whose Eyes are Weak or Impaired: Enabling Them to Form an Accurate Idea of the True State of Their Sight, the Means of Preserving it. First Edition. (London: R. Hindmarsh, 1789)
- Astronomical and Geographical Essays Containing I. A full and comprehensive view, on a new plan, of the General Principles of Astronomy; II. The use of the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes, Exemplified in a greater Variety of Problems, than are to be found in any other Work; III. The description and use of ths most improved Planetarium, Tellurian, and Lunarium; IV. An Introduction to Practical Astronomy. Second Edition. (London: R. Hindmarsh, 1790)
- An Essay on Vision, Briefly Explaining the Fabric of the Eye, and the Nature of Vision: Intended for the Service of Those Whose Eyes are Weak or Impaired: Enabling Them to Form an Accurate Idea of the True State of Their Sight, the Means of Preserving it. Second Edition. (London: R. Hindmarsh, 1792)
- Lectures on Natural and Experimental Philosophy, Considered in its Present State of Improvement. Describing, in a Familiar and Easy Manner, The Principal Phenomena of Nature, and Shewing, That They All Co-operate in Displaying the Goodness, Wisdom, and Power of God. in five volumes. (London, R. Hindmarsh, 1794)
- Astronomical and Geographical Essays Containing I. A full and comprehensive view, on a new plan, of the General Principles of Astronomy; II. The use of the Celestial and Terrestrial Globes, Exemplified in a greater Variety of Problems, than are to be found in any other Work; III. The description and use of ths most improved Planetarium, Tellurian, and Lunarium; IV. An Introduction to Practical Astronomy Third Edition. (London: R. Hindmarsh, 1795)
- Essays on the Microscope. Second edition with additions by Frederick Kanmacher. (London: Dillon and Keating, for W. and S. Jones 1798)
- An Essay On Electricity, Explaining the Principles of That Useful Science; and Describing the Instruments, Contrived Either to Illustrate the Theory, or Render the Practice Entertaining. Illustrated with Six Plates. To Which is Added, A Letter to the Author, from Mr. John Birch, Surgeon, on the Subject of Medical Electricity. Fifth Edition. (London: Printed by J. Dillon, and Co. For, and Sold By, W. and S. Jones, Opticians, Holborn., 1799)
- Astronomical and Geographical Essays. First American edition. (Philadelphia: Whitehall. Printed for William Young, Bookseller, 1800)
