The Life of Sir Humphry Davy, Bart. LL.D., Volume 2 (of 2)

The second volume follows Sir Humphry Davy as he steps beyond the laboratory of the Royal Institution and onto the broader stage of European science. Readers travel with him from a dramatic arrest in Morlaix to an audience with Napoleon and a tour of Parisian salons, where he meets the leading savants of the age. Along the way, Davy’s restless curiosity drives experiments on iodine, torpedoes, and even the combustion of diamonds.

The narrative also reveals how Davy’s generous spirit helped a young Michael Faraday rise from a bookseller’s apprentice to his laboratory assistant, setting the stage for a partnership that would shape modern chemistry. Their joint expeditions take them across the Alps, into Italian courts, and back to England, each stop offering fresh insights into natural philosophy. This volume captures the excitement of early‑19th‑century scientific adventure while hinting at the enduring legacy Davy would leave.