People/scientist, engineer

Humphry Davy

Humphry Davy (1778–1829), scientist, engineer, from United Kingdom. Linked to coal.

The lucky break

His safety lamp for coal mines won him a testimonial from the coal trade: by January 1817 a subscription had reached nearly 1500 pounds, and on 26 September 1817 coalowners gave him a service of plate.1

Legacy

Published On the Safety Lamp for Coal Mines in 1818, was made a baronet on 20 October 1818 and also gave support to the Geological Society of Cornwall founded in 1813. Born at Penzance; died in Geneva.1

Story cards

Timeline

  1. 1887Bulli Colliery explosion2
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Where next

Events

InspiredBulli Colliery explosionAn exposed Davy lamp was found to be a likely immediate cause at Bulli in 1887.2

Places

Worked atCornwall and West Devon Mining LandscapeHe supported the Geological Society of Cornwall, founded in 1813.1

Sources

  1. Davy, Humphry Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900 vol 14 (public-domain text on Wikisource), article by Robert Hunt
  2. 1887 Bulli Colliery Explosion case study (Learning from disasters) NSW Resources Regulator

From the Prospector Trails mining history dataset: each fact links to the source it was checked against. Figures are as the source gives them, in the money of their day. Not investment advice.

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Pictures: Timna in de Negevwoestijn; rotspartij "de zuilen van Salomo", Poll, Willem van de / Europeana (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Dolcoath tin mine, Camborne, Cornwall: miners in a mine shaft, standing on wooden platforms connected by ladders. Photograph by J. C. Burrow, 1890/1910., Burrow, J. C., 1852-1914 (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 15 Crew, NASA JSC (Public domain (NASA media, no copyright)); Mijnramp Bois du Caizier, Marcinelle, België. Schacht, Rossem, Wim van / Anefo / Europeana (Public Domain Mark 1.0).