Ami Argand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François-Pierre-Amédée Argand
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| Born | 5 July 1750 |
| Died | 14 or 24 October 1803 (aged 53) Geneva, France
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| Known for | Oil lamp |
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| Influences | Horace-Bénédict de Saussure Antoine de Foucroy |
François-Pierre-Amédée Argand, often called Ami Argand (born July 5, 1750 – died October 14 or 24, 1803), was a smart Genevan physicist and chemist. He is famous for inventing the Argand lamp. This lamp was a huge step up from the old-fashioned oil lamps people used before. It made homes and shops much brighter!
A Young Scientist's Start
Ami Argand was born in Geneva, which was then called the Republic of Geneva. He was the ninth of ten children in his family. His father was a watchmaker and hoped Ami would become a priest. But Ami loved science much more!
He became a student of Horace-Bénédict de Saussure. Saussure was a well-known botanist (someone who studies plants) and meteorologist (someone who studies weather). Ami wrote several science papers about weather when he was in his late twenties. He also taught chemistry and came up with ways to make brandy better. With his brother, he even built a big distillery (a place where spirits like brandy are made).
The Brilliant Lamp Invention
Around 1780, Ami Argand started working on making oil lamps better. Old lamps were often smoky and didn't give off much light. His big idea was to create a special round wick. This wick allowed air to flow both through its center and around its outside. More air meant a much brighter flame!
He also added a cylindrical glass chimney. This chimney helped the air flow even better, making the light even stronger. After many tests, he found the perfect size and shape for all the parts. He even added a way to move the wick up and down. This allowed people to adjust the flame for the best light. His new lamp was amazing! It was five to ten times brighter than a candle. It also burned cleanly, with less smoke, and was cheaper to use than candles.
In 1783, Argand met the Montgolfier brothers in France. These brothers were famous for inventing the hot air balloon. While he was there, a friend named Antoine-Aroult Quinquet saw an early version of Argand's lamp. Quinquet started making similar lamps himself. This led to a long legal fight over who had the right to make the lamp.
Making the lamp a success wasn't easy. Argand had to solve many problems.
- He needed a special wick. A lacemaker helped him figure out how to make the right kind of cylindrical wick.
- Finding the right type of glass for the chimney, one that could handle the heat, was another challenge.
- He tested many types of oil and found ways to clean them for the lamp. Whale oil became a popular choice, which even created a new industry!
- The part that held the wick and moved it up and down also needed many changes.
- Even the metal used to join parts of the oil tank caused problems because it leaked.
So, the Argand lamp wasn't just one invention. It was a whole system of improved parts working together. It was a bit like how Thomas Edison later invented a complete electrical lighting system.
In October 1783, Argand decided to make his lamps in England. He teamed up with William Parker and Matthew Boulton. In 1784, he received a patent for his design. A patent is like a special permission that protects an invention. Argand also worked closely with James Watt, who helped him test the lamp's efficiency. Watt also gave him advice for his court battles.
People really wanted the new lamps. At first, it was hard for Argand and his partners to make enough of them. But soon, Argand lamps became the main way to light homes and shops. Many other inventors copied his ideas or made their own versions. Thousands of shops started making these lamps over the next few decades. The Argand lamp was eventually replaced by the kerosene lamp around 1850.
Later Life
Sadly, even though his lamp was a huge success, Ami Argand didn't make much money from it. He got sick with malaria and suffered from it for twenty years. He passed away in Geneva when he was 53 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Aimé Argand para niños
