John Mudge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Mudge
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| Born | 1721 |
| Died | 26 March 1793 |
| Citizenship | British |
| Alma mater | King's College, University of Aberdeen (M.D.) (1784) |
| Known for | reflecting telescopes |
| Awards | Copley Medal (1777) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | physician |
John Mudge (1721 – 1793) was a smart British doctor. He was also very good at making mirrors for reflecting telescopes. In 1777, he won the Copley Medal for his important work on telescopes. This award is one of the highest honors in science!
About John Mudge
John Mudge was born in 1721 in a town called Bideford in Devon, England. He was the youngest of four sons. He went to grammar school in Bideford and Plympton. Later, he studied medicine at Plymouth Hospital.
Many people wanted John Mudge to move to London. But he chose to stay in Plymouth. He worked there as a surgeon for many years. In 1784, he earned a special medical degree (M.D.) from King's College, Aberdeen. After that, he became a physician, which is a type of doctor.
John Mudge had many famous friends. He was friends with the family of Sir Joshua Reynolds, a famous painter. When Samuel Johnson, a well-known writer, visited Plymouth, he also became friends with Mudge. John Mudge was also close with John Smeaton, a famous engineer.
Making Telescopes
John Mudge was very interested in making reflecting telescopes. These telescopes use mirrors to gather light and make distant objects look closer. He spent a lot of his free time working on them.
On May 29, 1777, John Mudge became a member of the Royal Society. This is a very old and important scientific group. In the same year, he won the Copley Medal. He earned it for his detailed instructions on how to make the best mirrors for telescopes. He also explained how to grind and polish them perfectly.
The president of the Royal Society, Sir John Pringle, said that Isaac Newton had predicted that machines would help make these special mirrors. Mudge's work showed how true that was!
John Mudge made two large telescopes. They could magnify things up to 200 times! He gave one to a German astronomer named Hans Moritz von Brühl. This telescope ended up at the Gotha Observatory. The other telescope was passed down to his son, William Mudge.
Medical Discoveries
Besides making telescopes, John Mudge also wrote important medical books.
In 1777, he published a book about smallpox. This was a serious disease at the time. His book helped improve how doctors understood and treated smallpox.
In 1778, he wrote about a quick way to cure a common cough. He even included a drawing of a special inhaler he invented. This inhaler became very popular. He also wrote a few other small medical papers.
Family Life
John Mudge was married three times and had ten children. His first wife was Mary Bulteel, and they had eight children together. His second wife, Jane, passed away in 1766. In 1767, he married Elizabeth Garrett. She lived until 1808. Two of his sons, William Mudge and Zachary Mudge, also became notable.
