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Michael FaradayEnglish physicist and chemist.
Date of Birth: 22.09.1791
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Biography of Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday was an English physicist and chemist who laid the foundations for modern electromagnetism. He is best known for his discoveries of electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism, and electrolysis. Faraday was born in what was then the suburb of Surrey, now part of one of the London districts. Coming from a modest family, his father worked as a blacksmith's apprentice and they had four children. In such conditions, it was difficult for Faraday to expect a good education, but he managed to teach himself a lot. At the age of 14, he became an apprentice to a local bookseller and spent seven years working there, reading numerous books, including Isaac Watts' "The Improvement of the Mind." This book had a great impact on Faraday, and he started implementing the practices described in it in his own life. Faraday was also interested in the exact sciences, with a particular fascination for electricity.

In 1812, at the age of 20, Faraday attended several lectures by Humphry Davy and John Tatum. These lectures had a profound influence on him, and he even sent Davy a 300-page book he had written based on the lecture notes. Davy reacted quickly and warmly, and soon Faraday became Davy's secretary. Later, Davy helped Faraday secure a position as an assistant at the Royal Institution. Davy also took Faraday on a trip across the continent, although there were some difficulties during the journey. Davy's wife refused to accept Faraday, who came from a different social class, as an equal, which greatly affected him. However, the trip also brought many benefits as Faraday was able to interact with numerous representatives of the European scientific elite and learn about many interesting ideas and theories.

On June 12, 1821, Faraday married Sarah Barnard, but they did not have any children. Religion played a significant role in Faraday's life, and he even served as a deacon for some time. Biographers unanimously claim that the sense of unity between God and nature was a key aspect in Faraday's work. Among Faraday's significant physical discoveries, his contributions to the field of magnetism are particularly notable. He established the foundations of modern electromagnetism, demonstrated how magnetic radiation can affect light rays, and proposed that this effect was just part of a larger theory. Faraday also achieved significant success in chemistry, discovering benzene, inventing one of the first variations of the Bunsen burner, and introducing popular terms that are still used today, such as "anode," "cathode," "electrode," and "ion." Faraday was an excellent experimenter and could explain his ideas in simple and understandable language. Surprisingly, he was relatively weak in mathematics, mastering only trigonometry and the basics of algebra. It was from Faraday's work that James Clerk Maxwell derived his legendary equations.

It is known that representatives of the British government offered Faraday to participate in a program to develop chemical weapons for use in the Crimean War. However, Faraday flatly refused this offer, considering it morally and ethically impossible to use his talents in such a way.
Michael Faraday passed away at the age of 75 in his home at Hampton Court.