Granville Wheler facts for kids

Granville Wheler (born August 1701 – died 12 May 1770) was an English clergyman and a clever scientist. He is best known for his important work with electricity.

Early Life and Education

Granville Wheler was born in August 1701. His father, Sir George Wheler, was a priest at Durham Cathedral in Durham. Granville grew up and went to school in Durham. Later, in 1717, he went to Christ's College, Cambridge, a famous university. He earned his first degree in 1721.

Scientific Discoveries

Around 1717, Granville Wheler bought a place called Otterden Place in Kent, England. This became his home and his science lab! He loved doing experiments with electricity there. He worked with his friends, including John Godfrey, Thomas Ruddock, and another scientist named Stephen Gray.

They were inspired by the work of other scientists, like Benjamin Franklin, who was also studying electricity. Wheler and his friends did experiments that helped prove that lightning is a form of electricity.

They also explored how electricity could travel. They used different types of threads and wires running through the building to see how far they could send an electric charge. Granville Wheler was the first person in England to successfully give an electric shock to a live animal, which was a big step in understanding how electricity affects living things.

After his friend Stephen Gray passed away in 1736, Wheler wrote down his own important observations about static electricity. His work helped other scientists learn more about this amazing force. Because of his important discoveries, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1728. This is a special honor for top scientists.

Later Life and Family

Granville Wheler became a priest in 1737 at a church in Nottinghamshire. He held this job until he died. He passed away on 12 May 1770 and was buried in the church at Otterden.

Granville Wheler was married twice. His first wife was Lady Catherine Maria. They had seven children together. After she passed away in 1740, he married Mary Dove. They did not have any children.