The Innovators -
“Nature intended me for the tranquil pursuits of science, by rendering them my supreme delight.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
The following narratives are related to a variety of characters who explored mysteries, applied scientific principles, and broadened frontiers. Today we think of them as creative disrupters who “think outside the box”, but the history of science gives us many examples of that spirit.
Harrison’s Chronometer
John Harrison, the humble maker of the seafaring chronometer which allowed ship’s captains to accurately determine their longitude at sea. Harrison’s innovative clock withstood the hardships of travel at sea, and kept time with remarkable accuracy that rivaled celestial navigation methods. His devices helped the likes of Captain Cook as he circumnavigated the globe. This narrative also incorporates the principles of celestial navigation, and finding “the longitudes” at sea.
The Aeronaut
Dr. John Jeffries, a Boston-born scientist who studied and flew “aerostatic spheres” along with his collaborator, Jean-Pierre Blanchard. The pair used airships similar to those used by the Montgolfier Brothers to cross the English Channel, and inspired men to break the bonds of gravity. Notable men such as Franklin, Jefferson, and Washington were taken with the wondrous possibilities of human flight.
The Science of Espionage
Major Benjamin Tallmadge was a school teacher turned spymaster to General Washington. Washington’s Culper Ring of spies used Tallmadge’s numeric codes and tactics to thwart the Redcoats in New York and bring down Benedict Arnold. Scientific principles abound in spy craft - from cryptography and ciphers to the chemistry of invisible inks. The portrayal includes many methods and tricks of espionage, including demonstrations of the mysterious “sympathetic stains” that could make sensitive communiques visible to only those who know the secrets
Mesmerism!
The flamboyant Franz Anton Mesmer from whom we have the word “mesmerize”, was a German doctor who believed his new science of Animal Magnetism was miraculous cures for many illnesses. Mesmer’s salons in Paris attracted throngs of followers (including Marie Antoinette and the Marquis de Lafayette). It was not until the dubious “peer reviews” of Franklin and Lavoisier did Mesmer’s craze abate.