Transcriber’s Note Superscripts are preceded by a ^ or enclosed in ^{braces}; italics are enclosed in _underscores_; boldface is enclosed in =equals signs=. _THE CENTURY SCIENCE SERIES_ EDITED BY SIR HENRY E. ROSCOE, D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S. MICHAEL FARADAY HIS LIFE AND WORK The Century Science Series. _Edited by_ SIR HENRY ROSCOE, D.C.L., F.R.S. 3s. 6d. _each_. Pasteur. By PERCY FRANKLAND, Ph.D.(Würzburg), B.Sc. (Lond.), F.R.S., and Mrs. PERCY FRANKLAND. Humphry Davy, Poet and Philosopher. By T. E. THORPE, LL.D., F.R.S. Charles Darwin and the Theory of Natural Selection. By EDWARD B. POULTON, M.A., F.R.S. John Dalton and the Rise of Modern Chemistry. By Sir HENRY E. ROSCOE, F.R.S. Major Rennell, F.R.S., and the Rise of English Geography. By Sir CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM, C.B., F.R.S. Justus von Liebig: his Life and Work (1803–1873). By W. A. SHENSTONE, F.I.C., Lecturer on Chemistry in Clifton College. The Herschels and Modern Astronomy. By AGNES M. CLERKE. Charles Lyell and Modern Geology. By Professor T. G. BONNEY, F.R.S. J. Clerk Maxwell and Modern Physics. By R. T. GLAZEBROOK, F.R.S. * * * * * Michael Faraday: his Life and Work. By Prof. SILVANUS P. THOMPSON, F.R.S. 5s. CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED, _London; Paris, New York & Melbourne_. [Illustration: Ever Yours Truly M Faraday] _THE CENTURY SCIENCE SERIES_ MICHAEL FARADAY HIS LIFE AND WORK BY SILVANUS P. THOMPSON, D.Sc., F.R.S. PRINCIPAL OF AND PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS IN THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, FINSBURY CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED _LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK & MELBOURNE_ 1898 [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED] [Illustration] ON A PORTRAIT OF FARADAY. Was ever man so simple and so sage, So crowned and yet so careless of a prize! Great Faraday, who made the world so wise, And loved the labour better than the wage. And this you say is how he looked in age, With that strong brow and these great humble eyes That seem to look with reverent surprise On all outside himself. Turn o’er the page, Recording Angel, it is white as snow. Ah God, a fitting messenger was he To show Thy mysteries to us below. Child as he came has he returned to Thee. Would he could come but once again to show The wonder-deep of his simplicity. COSMO MONKHOUSE. PREFACE