Henry Cavendish
English chemist and physicist
October 10, 1731 - February 24, 1810

Although he was born in France, Cavendish was an English chemist and physicist. He attended Cambridge University from 1749 to 1753, but left the university without receiving a degree. His father's death in 1783 provided him with an enormous inheritance, allowing him to live in seclusion for most of his life. Cavendish lived modestly, although he had three residences: one filled with books and apparatus, one containing his main library (available to all scholars), and one filled with workshops and laboratories.

He was the first to distinguish hydrogen from other gases (1766) and independently discovered nitrogen. He also established the composition of water (1784) and synthesized nitric acid (1784). Although he was a man of great wealth and social position, he lived as a recluse and devoted himself to scientific studies. Therefore, the sketch shown at the left is a copy of the only picture in existence of Cavendish and was made by an artist when Cavendish was not aware of his presence. The great English scientist Davy said of Cavendish that "His name will be an immortal honor to his house, his age and to his country."