Michael Faraday

During the last 400 years, most scientists have relied on mathematics in their development of their inventions or discoveries. However, one great British scientist, Michael Faraday, did not make use of mathematics. Faraday, the son of the poor blacksmith, was born in London in 1791 and had no education beyond reading and writing.

In 1812 Faraday was hired as a bottle washer by the great chemist Humphry Davy. Later, Faraday become a greater scientist than Davy, making the last years of Davy's life embittered with jealousy.

Faraday made the first electric motor in 1821, a device that use electricity to produce movement. Then Faraday became interested in the relationship between electricity and magnetism. In 1831 he discovered that when a magnet is moved near a wire, electricity flows in the wire.

With this discovery he produced a machine for making electricity called a dynamo. Faraday then went on to show how electricity affect chemical substances.
Because Faraday believed that money should be given to the poor, when he grew old, he was destitute. However, Queen Victoria rewarded him of his discoveries by giving him a stipend and a house. He died in 1867.