Luke Howard
Encyclopedia
Luke Howard FRS was a British manufacturing chemist
and an amateur
meteorologist with broad interests in science. His lasting contribution to science is a nomenclature system for clouds, which he proposed in an 1802 presentation to the Askesian Society
.
, and became a pharmacist
by profession. After serving an apprenticeship with a pharmacist in Stockport, Cheshire he set up his own pharmacy in Fleet Street in 1793. Around 1797 he then went into partnership with William Allen
to form the pharmaceutical company of Allen and Howard in London, manufacturing aspirin and quinine. The partnership was dissolved in 1807 and the company eventually (1856) became Howards and Sons.
He was elected a Fellow
of the Royal Society
in 1821. He spent the years 1824 to 1852 in Ackworth
, Yorkshire.
He died in Tottenham, London. He had married Mariabella Eliott (1769–1852); they had several children including John Eliot Howard
, FRS, chemist and botanist.
, stratus
, and cirrus
, as well as a series of intermediate and compound modifications, such as cirrostratus and stratocumulus, in order to accommodate the transitions occurring between the forms. He identified the importance of clouds in meteorology:
Howard was not the first to attempt a classification of clouds—Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
(1744–1829) had earlier proposed a list of descriptive terms in French—but the success of Howard's system was due to his use of universal Latin, as well as to his emphasis on the mutability of clouds. By applying Linnean
principles of natural history classification to phenomena as short-lived as clouds, Howard arrived at an elegant solution to the problem of naming transitional forms in nature.
In addition to his seminal work on clouds, Howard contributed numerous papers on other meteorological topics, although with less success. He was also a pioneer in urban climate
studies, publishing The Climate of London in 1818–20, which contained continuous daily observations of wind direction, atmospheric pressure, maximum temperature, and rainfall; it also demolished James Hutton
's theory of rain, though without suggesting a definitive alternative.
and Hugo Hildebrand Hildebrandsson
, who developed and popularised the system laid out by Howard. Abercromby noted in a paper on the naming of clouds that to the Quaker Howard "any name connected with heathen mythology was specially distasteful". Howard corresponded with Goethe, who wrote a series of poems in gratitude to him, including the lines:
Howard also inspired Shelley
's poem "The Cloud" and informed John Constable
's paintings and studies of skies and the writings and art of John Ruskin
, who used Howard's cloud classification in his criticisms of landscape paintings in Modern Painters.
Howard appears in a novel by French writer Stéphane Audeguy titled, La théorie des nuages, winner of the 2005 Prix de l'Académie. Published in the US by Harcourt in 2007 as The Theory of Clouds.
Bruce Castle Museum currently houses an exhibition of Howard's work.http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/luke-howard-exhibition-at-bruce-castle-museum/. There is an English Heritage
blue plaque
to Howard at 7 Bruce Grove, Tottenham
(the house in which he died, aged 91), on which he is described simply as "Namer of Clouds". The church in Tottenham that he had much involvement with (alongside his son, John Eliot Howard
), Brooks Street Meeting House (now Brook Street Chapel
) can still be found close to the house, on Tottenham High Road
.
His daughter Rachel founded a school in Ackworth, which also contains a Plymouth Brethren burial ground.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and an amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
meteorologist with broad interests in science. His lasting contribution to science is a nomenclature system for clouds, which he proposed in an 1802 presentation to the Askesian Society
Askesian Society
The Askesian Society was a debating club for scientific thinkers, established in 1796 in London. The name was taken from the Greek term Askesis, meaning 'training' or 'application'. It was founded by William Allen, who allowed the use of his laboratory at No...
.
Career
He was born in London, the son of Robert Howard, a lamp manufacturer, and educated at the Quaker school in Burford, Oxfordshire. He was a Quaker, later converting to the Plymouth BrethrenPlymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
, and became a pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
by profession. After serving an apprenticeship with a pharmacist in Stockport, Cheshire he set up his own pharmacy in Fleet Street in 1793. Around 1797 he then went into partnership with William Allen
William Allen (Quaker)
William Allen FRS, FLS was an English scientist and philanthropist who opposed slavery and engaged in schemes of social and penal improvement in early nineteenth century England.-Early life:...
to form the pharmaceutical company of Allen and Howard in London, manufacturing aspirin and quinine. The partnership was dissolved in 1807 and the company eventually (1856) became Howards and Sons.
He was elected a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
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"...
in 1821. He spent the years 1824 to 1852 in Ackworth
Ackworth, West Yorkshire
Ackworth is a village and civil parish in the metropolitan borough of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, situated between Pontefract, Barnsley and Doncaster on the small River Went. The village consists of four parts, High Ackworth, Low Ackworth, Ackworth Moortop, and Brackenhill...
, Yorkshire.
He died in Tottenham, London. He had married Mariabella Eliott (1769–1852); they had several children including John Eliot Howard
John Eliot Howard
John Eliot Howard was an English chemist of the nineteenth century, who conducted pioneering work with the development of quinine....
, FRS, chemist and botanist.
Scientific work
Luke Howard has been called "the father of meteorology" because of his comprehensive recordings of weather in the London area from 1801 to 1841 and his writings, which transformed the science of meteorology. Howard had an earlier interest in botany, presenting a paper 'Account of a Microscopical Investigation of several Species of Pollen, ...' that was published in the Linnean Society's Transactions for 1802, but wrote to Goethe that his passion was for meteorology. In his late twenties, he wrote the Essay on the Modification of Clouds, which was published in 1803. He named the three principal categories of clouds – cumulusCumulus cloud
Cumulus clouds are a type of cloud with noticeable vertical development and clearly defined edges. Cumulus means "heap" or "pile" in Latin. They are often described as "puffy" or "cotton-like" in appearance. Cumulus clouds may appear alone, in lines, or in clusters...
, stratus
Stratus cloud
A stratus cloud is a cloud belonging to a class characterized by horizontal layering with a uniform base, as opposed to convective clouds that are as tall or taller than wide . More specifically, the term stratus is used to describe flat, hazy, featureless clouds of low altitude varying in color...
, and cirrus
Cirrus cloud
Cirrus clouds are atmospheric clouds generally characterized by thin, wispy strands, giving them their name from the Latin word cirrus meaning a ringlet or curling lock of hair...
, as well as a series of intermediate and compound modifications, such as cirrostratus and stratocumulus, in order to accommodate the transitions occurring between the forms. He identified the importance of clouds in meteorology:
Clouds are subject to certain distinct modifications, produced by the general causes which affect all the variations of the atmosphere; they are commonly as good visible indicators of the operation of these causes, as is the countenance of the state of a person's mind or body.
Howard was not the first to attempt a classification of clouds—Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier de la Marck , often known simply as Lamarck, was a French naturalist...
(1744–1829) had earlier proposed a list of descriptive terms in French—but the success of Howard's system was due to his use of universal Latin, as well as to his emphasis on the mutability of clouds. By applying Linnean
Linnean
Linnean is closely associated to the alternative spelling Linnaean, and can refer to any of the following all of which are related to the original system of scientific taxonomy of biological species or its author:-Linnaean:*Carolus Linnaeus...
principles of natural history classification to phenomena as short-lived as clouds, Howard arrived at an elegant solution to the problem of naming transitional forms in nature.
In addition to his seminal work on clouds, Howard contributed numerous papers on other meteorological topics, although with less success. He was also a pioneer in urban climate
Urban climate
Urban climate refers to climatic conditions in an urban area that differ from neighboring rural areas and are attributable t urban development. Urbanization tremendously changes the form of the landscape and also produces changes in an area's air.-Rainfall:...
studies, publishing The Climate of London in 1818–20, which contained continuous daily observations of wind direction, atmospheric pressure, maximum temperature, and rainfall; it also demolished James Hutton
James Hutton
James Hutton was a Scottish physician, geologist, naturalist, chemical manufacturer and experimental agriculturalist. He is considered the father of modern geology...
's theory of rain, though without suggesting a definitive alternative.
Legacy
Howard's cloud classification had a major influence on the arts as well as on science. His classification of clouds was later adopted by Ralph AbercrombyRalph Abercromby (meteorologist)
Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish meteorologist.He was born 11 February 1842, the youngest son of the third Lord Abercromby. His mother, Louisa Penuel Forbes, was a daughter of Lord Medwyn....
and Hugo Hildebrand Hildebrandsson
Hugo Hildebrand Hildebrandsson
Hugo Hildebrand Hildebrandsson was a Swedish meteorologist and professor at Uppsala university between 1878 and 1907.-Biography:...
, who developed and popularised the system laid out by Howard. Abercromby noted in a paper on the naming of clouds that to the Quaker Howard "any name connected with heathen mythology was specially distasteful". Howard corresponded with Goethe, who wrote a series of poems in gratitude to him, including the lines:
- But Howard gives us with his clear mind
- The gain of lessons new to all mankind;
- That which no hand can reach, no hand can clasp
- He first has gained, first held with mental grasp.
Howard also inspired Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Percy Bysshe Shelley was one of the major English Romantic poets and is critically regarded as among the finest lyric poets in the English language. Shelley was famous for his association with John Keats and Lord Byron...
's poem "The Cloud" and informed John Constable
John Constable
John Constable was an English Romantic painter. Born in Suffolk, he is known principally for his landscape paintings of Dedham Vale, the area surrounding his home—now known as "Constable Country"—which he invested with an intensity of affection...
's paintings and studies of skies and the writings and art of John Ruskin
John Ruskin
John Ruskin was the leading English art critic of the Victorian era, also an art patron, draughtsman, watercolourist, a prominent social thinker and philanthropist. He wrote on subjects ranging from geology to architecture, myth to ornithology, literature to education, and botany to political...
, who used Howard's cloud classification in his criticisms of landscape paintings in Modern Painters.
Howard appears in a novel by French writer Stéphane Audeguy titled, La théorie des nuages, winner of the 2005 Prix de l'Académie. Published in the US by Harcourt in 2007 as The Theory of Clouds.
Bruce Castle Museum currently houses an exhibition of Howard's work.http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/luke-howard-exhibition-at-bruce-castle-museum/. There is an English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
to Howard at 7 Bruce Grove, Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
(the house in which he died, aged 91), on which he is described simply as "Namer of Clouds". The church in Tottenham that he had much involvement with (alongside his son, John Eliot Howard
John Eliot Howard
John Eliot Howard was an English chemist of the nineteenth century, who conducted pioneering work with the development of quinine....
), Brooks Street Meeting House (now Brook Street Chapel
Brook Street Chapel
Brook Street Chapel is a nondenominational church building in Tottenham, North London. The building was constructed for use as a meeting place for local Christians affiliated with the Plymouth Brethren movement.-History:...
) can still be found close to the house, on Tottenham High Road
Tottenham High Road
Tottenham High Road is the main thoroughfare through the district of Tottenham, in the London Borough of Haringey. It runs from Edmonton in the North to Stamford Hill in the South . It follows, for the whole of its length, the course of the erstwhile Roman Road, Ermine Street...
.
His daughter Rachel founded a school in Ackworth, which also contains a Plymouth Brethren burial ground.
Sources
- Hamblyn, Richard, The Invention of Clouds, London, Picador, 2001, ISBN 978-0330391955
- Thornes, John.E., John Constable's Skies, The University of Birmingham Press, 1999, ISBN 1-902459-02-4.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography