James Tytler facts for kids
James Tytler (born December 17, 1745 – died January 11, 1804) was a Scottish chemist and editor. He is best known for editing the second edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica. Tytler also made history as the first person in Britain to fly in a hot air balloon in 1784.
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Early Life and Work
James Tytler was born in Fern, a small town in Angus, Scotland. His father was a minister who taught him important subjects like Greek, Latin, and theology. James later studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. He also worked for a year with a ship's surgeon.
After his studies, Tytler opened a pharmacy in Leith, near Edinburgh. However, his business did not do well, and he faced financial difficulties. He later moved to northern England for a while before returning to Edinburgh around 1772.
Working on the Encyclopædia Britannica
Tytler's most successful years were when he worked on the Encyclopædia Britannica. He was the main editor for the second edition, which was published between 1777 and 1784. Even though he was paid less than the previous editor, he worked very steadily.
The second edition of the Britannica received good reviews. People liked it, and it sold well. Tytler also wrote many articles for the third edition of the encyclopedia, which started in 1788. He contributed a lot of content, especially for articles up to the letter 'M'.
Political Views
James Tytler held strong political beliefs. He supported the French Revolution of 1789, which was a big event in France. He also encouraged people in Britain not to pay certain taxes. He believed that public officials should be honest.
Because of his outspoken views, Tytler faced legal challenges in Scotland. In 1793, he decided to move to Belfast, and then in 1795, he moved to the United States. In America, he settled in Salem, Massachusetts. There, he continued to write and edit, working on a newspaper called the Salem Register. He also sold medicines.
First Flight in Britain
James Tytler was a very inventive person. He became famous for being the first person in Britain to fly in a hot air balloon. This happened on August 25, 1784, in Edinburgh. His balloon lifted a few feet off the ground.
Two days later, he managed to fly higher, reaching about 300 feet. He traveled for half a mile from Green House to the village of Restalrig. His flights were quite expensive to arrange.
Later attempts were not as successful. In October, his balloon only took off after he got out of the basket. This disappointed the crowd, and some people made fun of him. His last flight was on July 26, 1785.
Another balloonist named Vincenzo Lunardi soon became more famous in Scotland. Lunardi made several exciting flights, which made ballooning very popular. He even inspired new fashion trends, like the "Lunardi bonnet" mentioned in a poem by Robert Burns.
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