James Prescott Joule

James Prescott Joule

JAMES PRESCOTT JOULE was born at Salford, near Manchester, England, on

December 24, 1818. He was the second of five children born to a

wealthy brewery owner. James was educated at home until he was 15. He

then went to work in the family brewery However, he and his older

brother continued their education part-time with private tutors in

Manchester.

From 1834 until 1837, they were taught chemistry, physics, the

scientific method, and mathematics by the famous English chemist John

Dalton. (Like James Joule, Dalton was a Bible-believing Christian.)

James gratefully acknowledged the key role that Dalton played in his

becoming a scientist. 'It was from his instruction that I first formed

a desire to increase my knowledge by original researches', Joule said.

James was educated at home until he was 15. He then went to work in

the family brewery However, he and his older brother continued their

education part-time with private tutors in Manchester.

From 1834 until 1837, they were taught chemistry, physics, the

scientific method, and mathematics by the famous English chemist John

Dalton. (Like James Joule, Dalton was a Bible-believing Christian.)

James gratefully acknowledged the key role that Dalton played in his

becoming a scientist. 'It was from his instruction that I first formed

a desire to increase my knowledge by original researches', Joule said.

When their father became ill, James and his brother took over running

the brewery. James therefore did not have the opportunity to attend

university. However, his great desire was to continue to study

science, so he set up a laboratory in his home and began exper...

... middle of paper ...

...ral and Physical

Sciences, issued in London in 1864. This declaration affirmed their

confidence in the scientific integrity of the Holy Scriptures. The

list included 86 Fellows of the Royal Society.'9 James Joule was among

the more prominent of the scientists who signed the document.

From 1872 onwards, Joule's health deteriorated and he did little

further work. He died at Sale, Cheshire, England, on October 11, 1889.

Joule firmly acknowledged God as Creator. His own words set out the

priorities by which he lived-'After the knowledge of, and obedience

to, the will of God, the next aim must be to know something of His

attributes of wisdom, power and goodness as evidenced by his

handiwork, of God, the next aim must be to know something of His

attributes of wisdom, power and goodness as evidenced by His

handiwork.'