George Palmer (c. 1746 – 3 March 1826), also known as George Giros de Gentilly, named Palmer) was an English dye chemist, colour theorist, inventor, and soldier. He is best known for his conjectures about colour vision and colour blindness.
According to statements in his Copenhagen obituary, Palmer was born on an English ship to English parents of Catholic faith. Owing to the 18th century restrictions on activities of English Catholics, Palmer, as many others of his time, lived a double life between England and France. Nothing is known about his early years. Palmer reports to have witnessed the destructive fire at the Hôtel-Dieu de Paris in 1772, at approximate age 26.[1]
Circa 1775, he introduced a solution of tin as a new mordant for the dyeing of wool fabrics in Louviers, France, using the last name Giros de Gentilly.[2][3] In 1777, located in London, he published Theory of Colours and Vision, a French edition of which, translated by Denis-Bernard Quatremere d'Isjonval, was published in the same year in Paris. The translator was active at the time as director in the textile manufacturing facility Disjonval in Sedan, France, co-owned by his family.[4][5] In the same year Palmer also invented a fawn-coloured dye in London.[6] In 1781 J. H Voigt of Gotha, Germany, editor of Magazin fuer das Neueste aus der Physik und Naturgeschichte, a scientific review journal, describes meeting with Giros von Gentilly and the latter's conjectures about colour blindness.[7] In 1785 Palmer, living in Paris, had Lettre sur les moyens de produire, la nuit, une lumiere pareille a celle du jour published.[8] In it he described the modification of oil lamp light with a blue glass mantel, resulting in the approximation of daylight. He became acquainted with Antoine-Arnoult Quinquet (1745–1803) and his partner Ambroise Bonaventure Lange, producers of a dual-air current (Argand-style) oil lamp and formed a partnership with the former.[9] Introduction of the Quinquet-Lange lamp in Paris was the cause of Benjamin Franklin's famous letter on the subject of daylight saving time to the editor of Journal de Paris.[10] In 1786 Palmer published Theorie de la lumiere, applicable aux arts, et principalement a la peinture.[11] Toward the end of that decade Palmer became a mercenary soldier in the Corps of Engineers, at different times for Sweden, Austria, and Russia, reaching the rank of Major, as described in his obituary. In 1803 he published in Leipzig four short works on various inventions, one being a fire-extinguishing powder. A demonstration in a pharmacy of the use of the powder was described in a Niedersachsen newspaper.[12] In 1811, Palmer moved to Copenhagen into retirement and died there destitute in 1826.[13]
Colour vision and colour blindnessedit
Palmer made a lasting contribution to the development of colour science by being the first to speculate that there are three different mechanisms in the human eye that account for colour vision: "The superficies of the retina is compounded of particles of three different kinds, analogous to the three rays of light; and each of these particles is moved by its own ray."[4][14] This statement has proved true in regard to the number of different light sensor types, the cones, in the human eye, if not in regard to the claim of three kinds of light. Twenty-five years later a similar statement was made by the eminent physicist Thomas Young.[15]
Voigt, in his report on Giros von Gentilly, describes him as having stated that colour blindness arises if one or two of the three kinds of "particles" (light sensors) in the retina are inactive, a statement found to be accurate.[6] In 1786 Palmer provided a hypothesis for the complementary nature of the successive contrast effect by stating that it is due to fatiguing of one or two of the light sensor types, an explanation that continues to be accepted as valid, as does his conjecture that the different kinds of sensors take different time intervals to recover upon exposure to strong light.[11]
Notesedit
^Palmer, G. 1803, Incendies. Poudre antiincendiaire et preservative decouverte et publiee en Decembre 1802 a Wolfenbutel. Leipzig: Wolf.
^Berthollet, C. I. and Berthollet, A. B. 1804. Elements de l'art de la teinture, 2nd ed., Paris: Firmin Didot.
^Macquer, P. J. 1781. Memoires des Sieurs Maille freres et de Lafosse, manufacturiers de drap a Louviers, Aug. 3, 1781, Document No. 5315, Box F12/1334B, Archives Nationales de France, Paris.
^ abPalmer, G. 1777a. Theory of Colour and Vision, London: Leacroft.
^Palmer, G. 1777b. Theorie du couleur et de la vision, translated by D.-B. Quatremere d'Isjonval, Paris: Pissot.
^ abVoigt, J. H. 1781. Des Herrn Giros von Gentilly Muthmassungen ueber die Gesichtsfehler bey Untersuchung der Farben, Magazin fuer das Neueste aus der Physik und Naturgeschichte, Vol. 1 (2. St.) 57–61.
^Palmer, G. 1793. Letter dated June 19, 1793. Letter from Lord Hervey including two letters in French and two samples by G. Palmer about his yellow dye, Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Trades, and Manufactures, London, Ref. No.: PR-MC/105/10/452.
^Palmer, G. 1785. Lettre sur les moyens de produire, la nuit, une lumiere pareille a celle du jour, Paris.
^Anonymous, 1786. Journal de Paris, No. 350, Dec. 16, 1786, p. 1449.
^Anonymous (Benjamin Franklin), 1784. Journal de Paris, April 26, pp. 511–514.
^ abPalmer, G. 1786. Theorie de la lumiere, applicable aux arts, et principalement a la peinture, Paris: Harduin et Gattey, Quinquet.
^Anonymous, 1803. Palmers feuerloeschendes Pulver, Niedersaechsischer Anzeiger fuer alle Staende, No. 3, pp. 34–37.
^Thaarup, F. 1826. Dagen newspaper, Copenhagen, No. 66 (March 18), No. 68 (March 21) and No. 70 (March 23).
^Young, T. 1802. The Bakerian Lecture. On the theory of light and colours, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 92, p. 12-48.
January 01, 1970
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George Palmer c 1746 3 March 1826 also known as George Giros de Gentilly named Palmer was an English dye chemist colour theorist inventor and soldier He is best known for his conjectures about colour vision and colour blindness George PalmerBornc 1746EnglandDied3 March 1826 1826 03 03 aged 79 80 Copenhagen DenmarkOccupationChemistLife editAccording to statements in his Copenhagen obituary Palmer was born on an English ship to English parents of Catholic faith Owing to the 18th century restrictions on activities of English Catholics Palmer as many others of his time lived a double life between England and France Nothing is known about his early years Palmer reports to have witnessed the destructive fire at the Hotel Dieu de Paris in 1772 at approximate age 26 1 Circa 1775 he introduced a solution of tin as a new mordant for the dyeing of wool fabrics in Louviers France using the last name Giros de Gentilly 2 3 In 1777 located in London he published Theory of Colours and Vision a French edition of which translated by Denis Bernard Quatremere d Isjonval was published in the same year in Paris The translator was active at the time as director in the textile manufacturing facility Disjonval in Sedan France co owned by his family 4 5 In the same year Palmer also invented a fawn coloured dye in London 6 In 1781 J H Voigt of Gotha Germany editor of Magazin fuer das Neueste aus der Physik und Naturgeschichte a scientific review journal describes meeting with Giros von Gentilly and the latter s conjectures about colour blindness 7 In 1785 Palmer living in Paris had Lettre sur les moyens de produire la nuit une lumiere pareille a celle du jour published 8 In it he described the modification of oil lamp light with a blue glass mantel resulting in the approximation of daylight He became acquainted with Antoine Arnoult Quinquet 1745 1803 and his partner Ambroise Bonaventure Lange producers of a dual air current Argand style oil lamp and formed a partnership with the former 9 Introduction of the Quinquet Lange lamp in Paris was the cause of Benjamin Franklin s famous letter on the subject of daylight saving time to the editor of Journal de Paris 10 In 1786 Palmer published Theorie de la lumiere applicable aux arts et principalement a la peinture 11 Toward the end of that decade Palmer became a mercenary soldier in the Corps of Engineers at different times for Sweden Austria and Russia reaching the rank of Major as described in his obituary In 1803 he published in Leipzig four short works on various inventions one being a fire extinguishing powder A demonstration in a pharmacy of the use of the powder was described in a Niedersachsen newspaper 12 In 1811 Palmer moved to Copenhagen into retirement and died there destitute in 1826 13 Colour vision and colour blindness editPalmer made a lasting contribution to the development of colour science by being the first to speculate that there are three different mechanisms in the human eye that account for colour vision The superficies of the retina is compounded of particles of three different kinds analogous to the three rays of light and each of these particles is moved by its own ray 4 14 This statement has proved true in regard to the number of different light sensor types the cones in the human eye if not in regard to the claim of three kinds of light Twenty five years later a similar statement was made by the eminent physicist Thomas Young 15 Voigt in his report on Giros von Gentilly describes him as having stated that colour blindness arises if one or two of the three kinds of particles light sensors in the retina are inactive a statement found to be accurate 6 In 1786 Palmer provided a hypothesis for the complementary nature of the successive contrast effect by stating that it is due to fatiguing of one or two of the light sensor types an explanation that continues to be accepted as valid as does his conjecture that the different kinds of sensors take different time intervals to recover upon exposure to strong light 11 Notes edit Palmer G 1803 Incendies Poudre antiincendiaire et preservative decouverte et publiee en Decembre 1802 a Wolfenbutel Leipzig Wolf Berthollet C I and Berthollet A B 1804 Elements de l art de la teinture 2nd ed Paris Firmin Didot Macquer P J 1781 Memoires des Sieurs Maille freres et de Lafosse manufacturiers de drap a Louviers Aug 3 1781 Document No 5315 Box F12 1334B Archives Nationales de France Paris a b Palmer G 1777a Theory of Colour and Vision London Leacroft Palmer G 1777b Theorie du couleur et de la vision translated by D B Quatremere d Isjonval Paris Pissot a b Voigt J H 1781 Des Herrn Giros von Gentilly Muthmassungen ueber die Gesichtsfehler bey Untersuchung der Farben Magazin fuer das Neueste aus der Physik und Naturgeschichte Vol 1 2 St 57 61 Palmer G 1793 Letter dated June 19 1793 Letter from Lord Hervey including two letters in French and two samples by G Palmer about his yellow dye Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts Trades and Manufactures London Ref No PR MC 105 10 452 Palmer G 1785 Lettre sur les moyens de produire la nuit une lumiere pareille a celle du jour Paris Anonymous 1786 Journal de Paris No 350 Dec 16 1786 p 1449 Anonymous Benjamin Franklin 1784 Journal de Paris April 26 pp 511 514 a b Palmer G 1786 Theorie de la lumiere applicable aux arts et principalement a la peinture Paris Harduin et Gattey Quinquet Anonymous 1803 Palmers feuerloeschendes Pulver Niedersaechsischer Anzeiger fuer alle Staende No 3 pp 34 37 Thaarup F 1826 Dagen newspaper Copenhagen No 66 March 18 No 68 March 21 and No 70 March 23 George Palmer in http www gutenberg e org lowengard C Chap17 html Young T 1802 The Bakerian Lecture On the theory of light and colours Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 92 p 12 48 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title George Palmer colour theorist amp oldid 1094083284, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
