Benjamín Thomson, Count Rumford

Abstract

Benjamin Thomson, Count Rumford (1752-1814), was a self-educated scientist, military man, and political economist, living during the turbulent period of the American Revolution and the European Wars of the 18th and 19th centuries. He carried on important researches in the areas of heat transmission, measurement of the heat capacity, surface phenomena, photosynthesis, the nature of light, and nutrition. He discovered the phenomenon of thermal convection, proved that thermal energy was the result of molecular vibrations and did not have weight, measured the thermal equivalent of mechanical energy, developed a powerful lamp for domestic and industrial uses, improved substantially the design of chimneys, to decrease their enviromental effect, as well as the better use of food.