George Fownes facts for kids

George Fownes was a brilliant chemist who made important discoveries.

George Fownes (born May 14, 1815, in London – died January 31, 1849) was a very smart British chemist. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a big honor for scientists.

Early Life and Studies

George Fownes went to school at the Palace School in Enfield. He loved learning about science. Later, he traveled to Giessen, a city in Germany, where he earned his PhD degree. A PhD is the highest university degree you can get, showing he was an expert in his field.

A Career in Chemistry

George Fownes became a professor of chemistry in 1842 at the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. This society helps train people who work with medicines. In 1846, he started teaching at University College in London. He was also the secretary for the Chemical Society of London, which is a group for chemists to share ideas and discoveries.

Important Books and Awards

In 1844, George Fownes wrote a chemistry textbook. This book helped many students learn about the subject. He also won several important awards for his research:

• In 1842, he won a prize from the Royal Agricultural Society of England for his essay called Food of Plants. This essay was about how plants get the nutrients they need to grow.
• In 1844, he received the first Actonian Prize. This award came with 100 guineas (a type of money back then). He won it for his essay Chemistry as Exemplifies the Wisdom and Beneficence of God. People said his work was like the famous Bridgewater Treatises, which were books about science and religion. They called Fownes "a thorough chemist, a sound philosopher, and an enlightened Christian."

Recognition and Later Years

George Fownes was chosen to be a fellow of the Royal Society in 1845. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. However, in the same year, he had to leave his teaching jobs because he became very sick.

Even though he was ill, he continued his research. For his work in organic chemistry (the study of carbon-based compounds), he received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society in 1847.

Hoping to get better, he moved to Barbados in 1847. He was suffering from a lung disease. Sadly, when he returned to England in 1848, he caught a cold. George Fownes passed away at his father's house in Brompton at the young age of 34.

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  George Fownes