William Henry | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 12 December 1774 |
| Died | 2 September 1836(1836-09-02) (aged 61) Pendlebury, England |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Known for | Henry's law |
| Awards | Copley Medal (1808) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry Physician |
William HenryFRS (12 December 1774 – 2 September 1836) was an Englishchemist. He was the son ofThomas Henry and was born inManchesterEngland.[1][2] He developed what is known today asHenry's Law.
William Henry was apprenticed toThomas Percival and later worked with John Ferriar & John Huit at the Manchesters Infirmary.[citation needed] He began to study medicine atUniversity of Edinburgh in 1795, taking his medical in 1807, but ill-health[a] interrupted his practice as aphysician, and he devoted his time mainly to chemical research, especially with regard to gases. One of his best-known papers (published inPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 1803) describes experiments on the quantity of gases absorbed by water at different temperatures and under different pressures.[3] His results are known today asHenry's law. His other papers deal with gas-analysis,fire-damp,illuminating gas, the composition ofhydrochloric acid and ofammonia,urinary and othermorbid concretions, and the disinfecting powers of heat. HisElements of Experimental Chemistry (1799) enjoyed considerable vogue in its day,[4] going through eleven editions in 30 years.[5] He was one of the founders of theMechanics' Institute, the original precursor ofUniversity of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.
He was elected aFellow of the Royal Society in February 1809, having been awarded their prestigiousCopley Medal in 1808.[6] and elected to theManchester Literary and Philosophical Society on 2.April 1796.[7]
He shot himself in his private chapel atPendlebury, near Manchester, in 1836.[1]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Henry, William".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 302.
| Professional and academic associations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of theManchester Literary and Philosophical Society 1797–1800 | Succeeded by John Hull |
