John Walsh (scientist) facts for kids
John Walsh (born July 1, 1726 – died March 9, 1795) was a British scientist. He also worked as a secretary for the Governor of Bengal in India. John was the son of Joseph Walsh, who was also a secretary for the Governor of Fort St. George. He was also a cousin to Nevil Maskelyne, who was a famous astronomer.
Early Life and Career
John Walsh started working for the English East India Company when he was just fifteen years old. This company was a powerful British trading company that operated in India. He eventually became the private secretary to Robert Clive, a very important British leader in India.
In 1757, John Walsh was part of the Plassey campaign. This was a major battle against the ruler of Bengal, Siraj ud-Daulah. After this campaign, John Walsh received a large sum of money, about £56,000.
Life in England
When John Walsh returned to England in 1759, he was very wealthy. His money was estimated to be around £147,000. He used his wealth to buy land and gain political power. This was a common way for rich people to show their status in the 1700s.
In 1764, he bought a large estate called Warfield Park in Berkshire. He spent the next two years improving the property. From 1761 to 1780, John Walsh was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Worcester. This meant he was elected to represent the people of Worcester in the British government. He continued to support Robert Clive in politics.
Scientific Work
Later in his life, John Walsh became very interested in science. He was especially curious about electric fish. These are fish that can produce electric shocks.
In 1770, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists. In 1773, he received the Copley Medal for his work. This award was given for a paper he wrote about the electrical powers of torpedo fish. Torpedo fish are a type of ray that can create strong electric shocks.
Later Years and Legacy
When Sir John Walsh passed away in 1795, he left his large fortune to his niece, Margaret Walsh. He also left money to her husband, John Benn. They had to change their last name to Benn-Walsh to receive the inheritance.
John Benn-Walsh was already a wealthy man himself. He had made about £80,000 while working in India. With John Walsh's fortune, he became even richer. He inherited many estates and was later given the title Baron Ormathwaite.
