1. James Prescott JouleJames Prescott Joule
Born December 24, 1818 andBorn December 24, 1818 and
died October 11, 1889died October 11, 1889
Joule is best known for hisJoule is best known for his
research in electricity andresearch in electricity and
thermodynamicsthermodynamics
““After the knowledge of, andAfter the knowledge of, and
obedience to, the will ofobedience to, the will of
God, the next aim must be toGod, the next aim must be to
know something of Hisknow something of His
attributes of wisdom, power,attributes of wisdom, power,
and goodness as evidencedand goodness as evidenced
by His handiwork.”by His handiwork.”
2. About James PrescottAbout James Prescott
James Prescott Joule was born at Salford, England on ChristmasJames Prescott Joule was born at Salford, England on Christmas
Eve of the year 1818. His father and his grandfather before himEve of the year 1818. His father and his grandfather before him
were brewers, and the business, in due course, descended to Mr.were brewers, and the business, in due course, descended to Mr.
Joule and his elder brother, and by them was carried on withJoule and his elder brother, and by them was carried on with
success till it was sold, in 1854. Mr. Joule's grandfather camesuccess till it was sold, in 1854. Mr. Joule's grandfather came
from Elton, in Derbyshire, settled near Manchester, where hefrom Elton, in Derbyshire, settled near Manchester, where he
founded the business, and died at the age of fifty-four, in 1799.founded the business, and died at the age of fifty-four, in 1799.
His father, one of a numerous family, married a daughter of JohnHis father, one of a numerous family, married a daughter of John
Prescott of Wigan. They had five children, of whom JamesPrescott of Wigan. They had five children, of whom James
Prescott Joule was the second, and of whom three were sons--Prescott Joule was the second, and of whom three were sons--
Benjamin, the eldest, James, and John--and two daughters--AliceBenjamin, the eldest, James, and John--and two daughters--Alice
and Mary. Mr. Joule's mother died in 1836 at the age of forty-and Mary. Mr. Joule's mother died in 1836 at the age of forty-
eight; and his father, who was an invalid for many years beforeeight; and his father, who was an invalid for many years before
his death, died at the age of seventy-four, in the year 1858.his death, died at the age of seventy-four, in the year 1858.
3. EducationEducation
Young Joule was a delicate child, and was not sent to school. His early education was commenced byYoung Joule was a delicate child, and was not sent to school. His early education was commenced by
his mother's half sister, and was carried on at his father's house, Broomhill, Pendlebury, by tutorshis mother's half sister, and was carried on at his father's house, Broomhill, Pendlebury, by tutors
till he was about fifteen years of age. At fifteen he commenced working in the brewery, which, astill he was about fifteen years of age. At fifteen he commenced working in the brewery, which, as
his father's health declined, fell entirely into the hands of his brother Benjamin and himself.his father's health declined, fell entirely into the hands of his brother Benjamin and himself.
Mr. Joule obtained his first instruction in physical science from Dalton, to whom his father sentMr. Joule obtained his first instruction in physical science from Dalton, to whom his father sent
the two brothers to learn chemistry. Dalton, one of the most distinguished chemists of any age orthe two brothers to learn chemistry. Dalton, one of the most distinguished chemists of any age or
country, was then President of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and lived andcountry, was then President of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, and lived and
received pupils in the rooms of the Society's house. Many of his most important memoirs werereceived pupils in the rooms of the Society's house. Many of his most important memoirs were
communicated to the Society, whose "Transactions" are likewise enriched by a large number ofcommunicated to the Society, whose "Transactions" are likewise enriched by a large number of
communications from his distinguished pupil. Dalton's instruction to the two young mencommunications from his distinguished pupil. Dalton's instruction to the two young men
commenced with arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. He then taught them natural philosophy outcommenced with arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. He then taught them natural philosophy out
of Cavallo's text-book, and afterward, but only for a short time before his health gave way, inof Cavallo's text-book, and afterward, but only for a short time before his health gave way, in
1837, chemistry from his own "New System of Chemical Philosophy." "Profound, patient,1837, chemistry from his own "New System of Chemical Philosophy." "Profound, patient,
intuitive," his teaching must have had great influence on his pupils. We find Mr. Joule early atintuitive," his teaching must have had great influence on his pupils. We find Mr. Joule early at
work on the molecular constitution of gases, following in the footsteps of his illustrious master,work on the molecular constitution of gases, following in the footsteps of his illustrious master,
whose own investigations on the constitution of mixed gases, and on the behavior of vapors andwhose own investigations on the constitution of mixed gases, and on the behavior of vapors and
gases under heat, were among the most important of his day, and whose brilliant discovery of thegases under heat, were among the most important of his day, and whose brilliant discovery of the
atomic theory revolutionized the science of chemistry and placed him at the head of theatomic theory revolutionized the science of chemistry and placed him at the head of the
philosophical chemists of Europe.philosophical chemists of Europe.
4. His accomplishmentsHis accomplishments
Invented the electromagnetic engineInvented the electromagnetic engine
Established mechanical theory of heatEstablished mechanical theory of heat
First to determine the relationship between heatFirst to determine the relationship between heat
energy and mechanical energyenergy and mechanical energy
Elected to Royal Society of London (1850).Elected to Royal Society of London (1850).
Won awards such as the 1852 Royal Medal, andWon awards such as the 1852 Royal Medal, and
the 1870 Copley Medal plus a pension from thethe 1870 Copley Medal plus a pension from the
queen in 1878.queen in 1878.
