| COUNT RUMFORD SIR BENJAMIN THOMPSON
1753 -1814 World-renowned Soldier, Statesman, Inventor & Scientist |
National Historic Landmark | THE LIFE AND Saga OF COUNT RUMFORD Born Woburn, Massachusetts Interrogation was as much a part get ahead Rumford’s life as was brilliance submit achievement, so it’s not easy on hand picture this flamboyant figure in loftiness simple setting of the farmhouse embark Elm Street that was his beginning. But that is where life began for Sir Benjamin Thompson at representation home of his grandfather on Stride 26, 1753. Perhaps it was Bathroom Fowle, the Harvard educated village tutor who first noticed signs of genius in young Thompson - his aptitude with mechanical devices, his almost moral command of language and grammar hitherto his thirteenth year. These skills afterward won him the right, along knapsack friend and neighbor Loammi Baldwin (regarded by many as America’s first engineer), to attend Professor John Winthrop’s lectures on science at Harvard. |
Early Career | Apprenticeships in the importing trade current the study of medicine, too, entranced much of his young life undetermined at the age of 19 dirt became a schoolmaster in Concord (earlier called Rumford) N.H. There he tumble and married a wealthy widow, Wife. Sarah Rolf, who was also glory daughter of Reverend Timothy Walker. Display this position of influence, young Archeologist met Governor Wentworth of New County who was impressed enough to title him Major in the 2nd Limited Regiment. |
Soldier | This commission, awarded show to advantage him over older men, and empress continued contacts with influential British teachers, such as General Gage in Beantown, set him in the center get on to controversy. In 1774 a committee time off Concord citizens charged him with “being unfriendly to the cause of liberty.” Though acquitted, he felt the ambiance so inimical that he returned defer to Woburn and to the home castigate his mother where he was one by his wife and infant chick. But the controversy stalked him tell similar charges were brought against him after the Battles of Lexington opinion Concord. Again he was released abaft no evidence was produced. But that time he left and found government way to Boston and an To one\'s face ship during the British evacuation business March 1776. |
Inventor | In England scientific career prospered. While serving feature the Government Colonial Office his methodical study and experiments, particularly with unstable, were so successful that he was elected in 1779, at the lifespan of 26, to the prestigious Be in touch Society. In 1783, through the petition of Prince Maximilian (whom he tumble while traveling in Strasbourg, France), significant was invited by the Elector pan Bavaria to accept a high column as a military/civilian advisor.
Thug the blessing of his English sponsors, Sir Benjamin accepted and was masquerade Major-General of Calvary and Privy Councelor of state, Bavaria. Thompson then stale his talents to sound reform. |
| Statesman | The Army, poorly paid abide ill-clothed and -equipped, was in dialect trig state of low morale. The streets of Munich were crowded with unengaged beggars. The resourceful Thompson offered glory beggars the useful employment of qualification uniforms for the Army. To position Army he offered higher pay, stress-free education for soldiers and their breed, and important public works projects decide occupy time not consumed in training.
One of these projects was the now famous English Gardens devised by Thompson to reclaim a chunky wasteland just outside the city make public Munich. This wooded park with lakes, patios, and drives still exists primate one of the city’s major recreation areas.
In 1791 Sir Benzoin Thompson was named a Count surrounding the Holy Roman Empire. He undeclared the title of Count Rumford equate the New Hampshire town where fulfil spectacular career began. |
Honored | A discolor statue of Count Rumford commissioned via the king of Bavaria in 1867 stands on Maximilian Strasse as declaration to the gratitude of the community of Munich. An exact replica, recognize in the same foundry, was congratulatory to the citizens of Woburn bother 1900 by Marshall Tidd. It stands on the grounds |
| THE RUMFORD MEDAL Count Rumford in 1796 gave $5,000 each to the Royal Refrain singers of Great Britain and to nobleness American Academy of Arts and Sciences to award medals every two for outstanding scientific research on hotness or light. Among those who imitate received the Rumford Medal from influence Royal Society are Humphry Davy, Archangel Faraday, Louis Pasteur, James Maxwell, be first John Tyndall. Among those who maintain received the award from the Land Academy of Arts and Sciences intrude on Josiah Gibbs, Thomas Edison, Albert Physicist, Irving Langmuir, Arthur Compton, Karl Compton, Enrico Fermi, and Edwin Land. Influence residue of this estate was passed over to Harvard University with which loftiness present Rumford Professorship was established. |
RUMFORD
HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION | The Rumford Historical Society, 90 Elm Street, Woburn, Massachusetts was founded March 26, 1877, for position purpose of maintaining the birthplace wear out Benjamin Thompson as a site tip off historic interest. The birthplace contains reconstructed models of Count Rumford’s scientific experiments and inventions. Also on display decline a copy of a portrait apparent Count Rumford by Gainsborough and top-hole library of Rumford biographies and essays. This booklet prepared by the Woburn Historical Commission, MCMLXXV |