Lord Charles Cavendish facts for kids
Lord Charles Cavendish (born March 17, 1704 – died April 28, 1783) was an important British nobleman and politician. He was a member of the Whig Party, which was a major political group in Britain at the time.
Charles was the youngest son of William Cavendish, 2nd Duke of Devonshire, and Rachel Russell. His family was very well-known and powerful.
In 1727, Lord Charles Cavendish married Lady Anne de Grey. They had two sons. One was Henry Cavendish (1731–1810), who became a very famous scientist. The other was Frederick Cavendish (1733–1812).
Lord Charles Cavendish became a member of the House of Commons in 1725. This is like being a member of parliament today. He represented different areas until 1741. After that, he passed his political role to his nephew, William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire.
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Scientific Discoveries and Inventions
Lord Charles Cavendish was also a keen scientist. He was a vice-president of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.
Measuring Temperature
In 1757, the Royal Society gave him the Copley Medal. This was a big award for his work on thermometers. He helped create special thermometers that could record the highest and lowest temperatures reached.
Experiments with Electricity
Cavendish was one of the first people in England to experiment with the Leyden jar. This device, which arrived in England in 1746, was used to store electricity.
His interest in electricity was passed on to his son, Henry Cavendish. Henry also became a very important member of the Royal Society. Henry Cavendish was even more famous for his electrical experiments. He also made other big discoveries in physics, like measuring the mass of the Earth.
Plasma Glow Experiments
One of Charles Cavendish's experiments involved trying to recreate a special glow. This glow, called a plasma glow, was first seen by Francis Hauksbee. It happened when electricity was passed through a glass globe with a partial vacuum inside.
Another scientist, Benjamin Wilson, repeated Cavendish's experiments in 1759. Wilson saw a "singular appearance of light" on mercury. This suggests Cavendish was exploring how electricity behaves in different conditions.
