Joseph Priestley

Joseph Priestley was born on March 13, 1733, in Birstall Fieldhead, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England.

Encouraged by the Presbyterian clergy he interacted with at his aunt's home, Joseph Priestley decided to pursue studies for the ministry, moving away from the Calvinism of his father.

In 1762, Joseph Priestley was ordained and married Mary Wilkinson, who was described as having an excellent understanding, great fortitude, and a generous temperament.

Joseph Priestley published a redacted version of A New Chart of History in 1765, aiming to provide students with a comprehensive view of the rise, progress, extent, duration, and contemporary state of major civilizations throughout history.

In 1766, Joseph Priestley was honored by being made a Fellow of the Royal Society due to his research and growing reputation as an experimenter.

In 1767, Joseph Priestley, while living near a brewery in Leeds, England, discovered 'fixed air,' which is now known as carbon dioxide. This discovery led to his extensive research on the chemistry of gases and the artificial production of carbon dioxide, a crucial development for the modern soft-drink industry.

In 1768, Joseph Priestley wrote a popular version of the History of Electricity for the general public titled A Familiar Introduction to the Study of Electricity.

Joseph Priestley, a British polymath, created a groundbreaking visual representation of historical events in his New Chart of History in 1769. The chart aimed to provide a clear view of the rise, progress, extent, and duration of significant empires and states, introducing innovative visual conventions and a consistent time scale.

In 1771, Joseph Priestley observed that plants release oxygen into the air, a process now known as photosynthesis. He conducted experiments where he placed a flame in a jar causing it to go out due to lack of air, but when a green plant was added and exposed to sunlight, the air was 'refreshed' allowing the flame to burn again.

In 1772, Joseph Priestley was offered the position of science adviser for Captain James Cook's second voyage. However, the offer was rescinded due to pressure from Anglican authorities who objected to his evolving Unitarian theology.

In 1773, Joseph Priestley was awarded the Royal Society's prestigious Copley Medal for his work on gases. This recognition highlighted his significant contributions to the field of chemistry.

In 1774, Joseph Priestley described a colorless gas that promotes combustion processes, which he named dephlogisticated air. This gas was later identified as oxygen, although Priestley remained a proponent of the phlogiston theory.

In 1775, Joseph Priestley presented 'An Account of Further Discoveries in Air' in the Philosophical Transactions, detailing his additional findings.

In 1779, Joseph Priestley discovered the production of dephlogisticated air by heating saltpetre. This further contributed to his understanding of gases and chemical reactions.

In 1780, Joseph Priestley's residence in Birmingham served as a hub for scientific education for the local children, emphasizing the importance of science in education.

After Priestley's passing, APS Librarian John Vaughan acquired Priestley's copy of Blair's Chronology from bookseller Thomas Dobson and later donated it to the American Philosophical Society.

Despite no longer teaching, Joseph Priestley maintained his interest in timelines and acquired a copy of John Blair's Chronology and History of the World up to the Year of Christ, 1788. The book contains tables detailing sacred and secular history, along with prefaces and indices.

On July 14, 1791, the 'Birmingham Toast' satirical illustration by British cartoonist James Gillray mocked French Revolution supporter Joseph Priestley, who sparked the 'Priestley Riots'. The riots were a result of his political and religious views.

In 1792, Amos Doolittle of New Haven, Connecticut produced a new edition of Joseph Priestley's Chart of History. This edition is considered even more scarce than the original London edition, adding to the historical significance of Priestley's work in the field of graphic design.

On April 8, 1794, Joseph Priestley and his wife Mary sailed to America to join their sons who had emigrated earlier to Pennsylvania. Priestley declined a teaching position at the University of Pennsylvania and settled in Northumberland to be close to his family.

In 1800, Joseph Priestley founded the Unitarian Church in the United States while continuing his research and isolating carbon monoxide, which he referred to as 'heavy inflammable air'.

Joseph Priestley passed away on February 6, 1804, in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, U.S. at the age of 70.

A New Chart of History, created by Joseph Priestley, was so popular that it went through fifteen editions by 1816, showcasing its widespread acceptance and influence.

A portrait of Joseph Priestley was featured in the book 'Chemistry, Developed by Facts and Principles Drawn Chiefly from the Non-Metals' in 1887.

In 1920, the Joseph Priestley House was recognized as a significant location for the history of chemical research in America. It was described as a place that attracts those interested in the origins of chemical studies.

On August 1, 1994, the International Historic Chemical Landmark was dedicated at the Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, USA. This event commemorated the significance of Joseph Priestley's contributions to science, particularly his discovery of oxygen in 1774.

The American Chemical Society and the Royal Society of Chemistry dedicated the Discovery of Oxygen by Joseph Priestley as an International Historic Chemical Landmark in Wiltshire, UK. The event commemorated Priestley's discovery of oxygen in 1774 and his significant contributions to the field of chemistry.

The article 'Joseph Priestley and the Graphic Invention of Modern Time' by Rosenberg was published in Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture in 2007.