Person    | Male  Born 26/3/1753  Died 21/8/1814

Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford

Categories: Politics & Administration, Science

Countries: France, Germany, USA

Inventor and adventurer. Born Woburn, Massachusetts.

Having spied for the British in America he moved to England in 1776, was knighted by King George III, moved to Germany where he gained the title Count Rumford. His scientific work included investigating the force of gunpowder and demonstrating that heat is a form of energy. He also worked on the cultivation of potatoes and invented the Rumford Soup (particularly nutritious for the poor). Other inventions: the Rumford fireplace, a drip coffeepot. With Sir Joseph Banks he established the Royal Institution.

Marrying the widow of Lavoisier (the French chemist) in 1804 he move to Paris where he stayed until his death at Auteuil near Paris.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford

Commemorated ati

Sir B Thompson Count Rumford

English Heritage Sir Benjamin Thompson Count Rumford, 1753 - 1814, inventor ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir Alfred James Newton

Sir Alfred James Newton

Lord Mayor of the City of London 1899-1900 and in that role instrumental in the creation of The City of London Imperial Volunteers who fought in the South African War.  Alderman on the Bridge House...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Poplar Borough Council

Poplar Borough Council

In 1855, Poplar joined with neighbouring Bromley and Bow to form the Poplar District of the Metropolis. This became the Metropolitan Borough of Poplar in 1900. In 1965 it merged with the Metropolit...

Group, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Dr. Frederick Montague Miller

Dr. Frederick Montague Miller

Twice Mayor of Hackney. Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched Miller and found this photo: Frederick Montague Miller was born in 1848 in Hackney, the son of Claudius Montague Miller and Eliz...

Person, Medicine, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
C. H. Ellett

C. H. Ellett

Church warden of St Dunstans Stepney, 1844.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
Rania Khan

Rania Khan

Councillor in Hackney council, on the right of this picture.  Born Tripoli.  When elected, aged 23, she was the youngest councillor in the country.

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial