Henry Cavendish

Revolutionary chemist and physicist who made groundbreaking discoveries in hydrogen and Earth's density measurement

Henry Cavendish (1731–1810) stands as one of the most enigmatic yet profoundly influential scientists of the 18th century. His meticulous experiments and shy demeanor masked a mind that fundamentally altered our understanding of chemistry and physics. Cavendish's discovery of hydrogen, which he termed 'inflammable air,' laid the foundation for modern gas studies. Through his famous Cavendish experiment, he calculated Earth's density with remarkable accuracy using a torsion balance—a feat not surpassed for over a century.

Despite inheriting vast wealth, Cavendish lived ascetically, dedicating his life to science. His work on electrical conductivity predated Ohm's law, and his studies of heat capacity influenced later thermodynamics. The Royal Society preserved his unpublished manuscripts, revealing insights into gravitational constants and atmospheric composition that anticipated later discoveries.

Cavendish's reluctance to publish nearly erased his legacy, but James Clerk Maxwell later systematized his findings. Today, the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University bears his name, honoring his role in shaping experimental physics.