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William Whewell
Born in Lancaster UK, to working class parents. His father was a master carpenter. Early on in his schooling he showed great aptitude for mathematics which was how he got on the life path that he followed. -
Exhibition to Trinity College
He was awarded a closed exhibition which was a scholarship awarded to children of working class parents. He was awarded this due to his mathematic skills demonstrated while working with the blind mathematic tutor John Gough at Heversham Grammar School.
Snyder, Laura. Reforming Philosophy : A Victorian Debate on Science and Society. University of Chicago Press, 2006 -
Chair of Mineralogoy at Cambridge University
His first posting as a professor. An example of how diversified he was as a scientist. He studied many different types of science and religion through his lifetime. -
Invented the word Scientist
He came up with the word scientist and it was first published in an anonymous review of Mary Sommerville's "On the Connexion of the Physical Sciences" in the Quarterly Review. Prior to this Scientists were known as "Natural Philosophers" or "men of science". -
Astronomy and General Physics Considered with Reference to Natural Theology
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Great Tide Experiment
He wanted to know if you could predict tides locally by studying them globally. In a time before telephones, and mail took weeks to cross the ocean, he coordinated 650 volunteers, or as he called them, "subordinate labourers". They spanned nine countries around the world and included twenty eight stations on both coasts of the United States, 219 coast guard stations in Ireland, and 318 coast guard stations in England. Here is a short video on it. Link text -
History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Times
His first look at the history of inductive sciences and how they have been used through the ages. This was a three volume set in the first publishing. He updated the book every ten years with the second edition being published in 1847 and the third edition published in 1857. -
Professor of Moral Philosophy
This role allowed him to teach in the religious moral philosophy realm. -
The Philosophy of Inductive Sciences, Founded Upon Their History
This was a two volume book to show how inductive reasoning has been used and advanced science through the ages. He felt that "We may best hope to understand the nature and conditions of real knowledge, by studying the nature and conditions of the most certain and stable portions of knowledge which we already possess: and we are most likely to learn the best methods of discovering truth, by examining how truths, now universally recognized, have really been discovered". William Whewell D.D. 1840 -
Master of Trinity College
He was recommended to Queen Victoria for this position by Prime Minister Robert Peel. -
The Elements of Morality Including Polity
This was a peculiar work in that it spoke to the primary and universal rights of man (personal security, property, contract, family rights and government) and of the cardinal virtues (benevolence, justice, truth, purity and order). -
Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy
A collection of lectures he gave over the years in Moral Philosophy classes. -
History of Scientific Ideas
This was a two volume book, which in itself was the first part of three that was an up dated Philosophy of Inductive Sciences from 1840. -
Novum Organon Renovatum
The second part to the last update of Whewell's previous published Philosophy of the Inductive Sciences. -
On the Philosophy of Discovery: Chapters Historical and Critical
In this last update on his earlier philosophy books he actually includes some religious philosophy as he felt we needed to give some credit to the creator of the universe. -
Six Lectures on Political Economy
These lectures were present to the Prince of Wales at the request of the King. This is a testament to the long road Whewell had travelled since being born a son to a carpenter, to being advisor to the next King of England. -
Additional Lectures on the History of Moral Philosophy
In this addition to his previous work, "History of Moral Philosophy", he expands to other times and countries as the original was only in England. -
William Whewell
Died as a result of a fall from his horse.
