Robert Boyle

     A world famous scientist is always an interesting read. John Hudson Tiner tells us about Robert Boyle in his biography entitled Robert Boyle: Trailblazer of Science.


     Robert was a son of the great Earl of Cork. The Earl sent all of his boys to peasant homes until they were four. This way they learned to work and not to be lazy like most of noble children at that time were. On his fourth birthday a fancy coach came to pick him up and bring him to his father. He had never met his father before that he could remember. That night he went to bed on a covered bed with big cushions and soft blankets. It was a big change from a pile of straw for a bed and a small hut. Robert met his siblings but sadly his mother had died a year before. From an early age he enjoyed learning. His father therefore took extra care with his education.

     When Robert was eight years old his father sent him and his older brother Frank to Eton, which was a famous school in England. Robert spent all of his spare time reading books from the school library. The president of the school invited students to his house for dinner daily. Robert enjoyed this very much. The man had a laboratory in his house and was always conducting experiments. Unlike most people of his time he questioned the science books and instead of getting an answer from them he would experiment to get it. He was seeing that these ancient authorities were wrong about what they said often. He encouraged the students to question these authorities and do experiments to find answers.

     When Robert and Frank were done with their school at Eton, the Earl sent them on a tour of Europe. They traveled to every important place in Europe. Robert’s favorite place was Florence, Italy, the home of Galileo. Robert wanted to see him, but he died that winter. Robert decided that he would become a scientist. However, back home in Ireland the Irish people revolted against the English landowners leaving their father a poor man. Robert and Frank now had to find their way home on their own. They had no money. Frank went home by himself, but their tutor took Robert to his home. When Robert finally got home his father had died. He was now wandering around the streets of London penniless. He had a sister in London and she happened to find Robert. He found that his father had willed him an estate in England. He traveled to it and began to set up a laboratory.

     Robert spent most of his time in his laboratory. He wrote books on his discoveries that anyone could read. He became famous. Robert conducted experiments on air and wrote a book about them called New Experiments Touching on the Spring of the Air. This was also when he discovered what we know as Boyle’s Law, which tells us that volume and pressure of gas are inversely related. As Robert grew older he began to lose his eyesight and also suffered from a stroke. He still kept on working in his laboratory however. Robert Boyle lived from 1627-1691.

     Without Robert Boyle we wouldn’t have chemistry as we know it today. Robert Boyle set the example for scientists of his time by publishing what he knew right away so that scientists could build on each other’s work. If you want an interesting read, read this book.