Gowin KnightFRS (10 September 1713 – 8 June 1772) was a British physicist who, in 1745, discovered a process for producing strongly magnetised steel. He also served as the first principal librarian of the British Museum.[1]
In 1745, he discovered a process for forming strongly magnetised steel, which he used to develop a compass needle able to function with greater precision. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society the same year after presenting his findings to the Society. He was honoured in 1747 with the Copley Medal in recognition of his achievements and, by 1752, his technologically advanced compasses were adopted by the Royal Navy, with renowned London instrument craftsman, George Adams, engaged in their manufacture.
In 1756, Knight received an appointment as the first principal librarian of the British Museum.[1] He died in London, at age 58.
Capsule biography of Gowin Knight at Science & Society Picture Library website
Gowin Knight entry at the Encyclopædia Britannica Online
January 01, 1970
gowin, knight, september, 1713, june, 1772, british, physicist, 1745, discovered, process, producing, strongly, magnetised, steel, also, served, first, principal, librarian, british, museum, biography, editborn, corringham, small, parish, lincolnshire, knight,. Gowin Knight FRS 10 September 1713 8 June 1772 was a British physicist who in 1745 discovered a process for producing strongly magnetised steel He also served as the first principal librarian of the British Museum 1 Gowin KnightBiography editBorn in Corringham a small parish in Lincolnshire Knight was educated at Leeds Grammar School and Magdalen Hall Oxford He was awarded a BA in October 1736 MA in June 1739 and MB in February 1742 after which he lived in London as a practising physician In 1745 he discovered a process for forming strongly magnetised steel which he used to develop a compass needle able to function with greater precision He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society the same year after presenting his findings to the Society He was honoured in 1747 with the Copley Medal in recognition of his achievements and by 1752 his technologically advanced compasses were adopted by the Royal Navy with renowned London instrument craftsman George Adams engaged in their manufacture In 1756 Knight received an appointment as the first principal librarian of the British Museum 1 He died in London at age 58 References edit a b Knight Gowin Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Capsule biography of Gowin Knight at Science amp Society Picture Library website Gowin Knight entry at the Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gowin Knight amp oldid 1213013571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
