Isaac Milner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Isaac Milner
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Isaac Milner (1750–1820)
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| Born | 11 January 1750 Mabgate, Leeds, England
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| Died | 1 April 1820 (aged 70) Cambridge, England
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| Nationality | English |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Known for | Chemical production of nitrous acid |
| Relatives | Joseph Milner (brother) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematician and chemist |
| Institutions | University of Cambridge |
Isaac Milner (11 January 1750 – 1 April 1820) was an important English person who was a mathematician, an inventor, and a scientist. He was also the President of Queens' College, Cambridge and a special professor of mathematics at the university. He also held a high position in the church as the Dean of Carlisle.
Contents
Isaac Milner's Life Story
Early Life and Education
Isaac Milner was born on 11 January 1750 in a place called Mabgate in Leeds, England. He started school in Leeds in 1756. However, his father passed away in 1760, which meant Isaac had to stop his schooling.
After his father's death, Isaac became an apprentice weaver. This meant he learned the trade of weaving cloth. Even though he was working, he loved to read classic books whenever he had free time. His older brother, Joseph Milner, helped him get a new opportunity. Joseph was offered a job as the headmaster at Hull's grammar school and invited Isaac to work there as an usher, helping with the students.
University Days
Thanks to his brother's help, Isaac was able to leave his job in Hull. In 1770, he went to Queens' College, Cambridge. He started as a "sizar," which was a student who received financial help by doing various tasks for the college.
Isaac was a very bright student. In 1774, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. He was the "senior wrangler," meaning he was the top mathematics student in his year. He also won the first Smith's prize, which was a special award for his achievements.
Church and Leadership Roles
Soon after finishing his degree, Isaac became a deacon in the church. In 1776, Queens' College offered him a fellowship, which meant he became a member of the college's teaching staff. The next year, he became a priest and a college tutor. In 1778, he was given the job of rector at St Botolph's Church, Cambridge.
Isaac was known for being from the northern part of England. He was sent to help improve how the Deanery of Carlisle was managed. He used a scientific way of thinking to improve the church's work in the northern parishes. He was very successful in this role. However, Isaac wanted to return to Cambridge for further opportunities.
Isaac Milner's Scientific Work
A Growing Science Career
During these years, Isaac Milner's career as a scientist really started to take off. In 1776, a famous astronomer named Nevil Maskelyne hired him. Isaac worked as a "computer" for the Board of Longitude, which helped sailors find their way at sea.
Isaac also wrote two important mathematical papers. These papers were presented to the Royal Society, a very famous group of scientists. In 1780, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. His papers showed that he was excellent at mathematics. They also showed he preferred English scientific ideas over French ones, especially those based on Isaac Newton's work.
In 1782, a new professorship was created at Cambridge called the Jacksonian professorship of natural philosophy (which means science). Isaac Milner was chosen to be the very first professor for this position. He held this job until 1792.
Important Inventions and Experiments
Besides teaching, Isaac Milner also invented an important way to make nitrous acid. This acid was a key ingredient used to make gunpowder. He wrote a paper explaining his process, which was published in 1789. Another famous scientist, Joseph Priestley, also wrote about this topic, and they shared ideas.
Later in his life, Isaac moved his large collection of chemistry equipment to his home at Queens' College. He did many experiments there with other scientists like E. D. Clarke, William Whewell, and the Wollaston brothers. He also worked with famous scientists like Humphry Davy and Joseph Banks to try and find a cure for gout, a painful medical condition.
Beliefs and Legacy
Changing Views and Big Impact
Over his 45-year career, Isaac Milner's scientific ideas became very similar to his religious beliefs. He always remained part of the Anglican church. However, he started to strongly believe in the main ideas of the evangelical movement, which was a religious revival in the late 1700s.
Isaac Milner, along with Charles Simeon, played a big part in bringing this evangelical revival to Cambridge University. As the Master of Queens' College, he made huge changes to the college. He was also responsible for helping William Wilberforce become a strong believer. This happened during a long trip they took together in 1784–1785. Their teamwork was very important for the law passed in 1807 that abolished slavery.
Isaac also became famous across the country for helping his brother Joseph write a seven-volume book called Ecclesiastical History of the Church of Christ (published in 1818).
How He Was Remembered
After he passed away, Isaac Milner was remembered for his amazing intelligence. People also remembered his unique way of life and his important role in the rise of evangelicalism.
See also
- Leeds Grammar School
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Isaac Milner (1750–1820)
