Peter Dollond facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Dollond
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| Born | 2 February 1731 |
| Died | 2 July 1820 (aged 89) |
| Known for | Achromatic lens |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Optics |
Peter Dollond (born February 2, 1731, died July 2, 1820) was a clever English inventor. He made amazing tools that helped people see better, like telescopes and microscopes. His father, John Dollond, was also an optician, someone who makes and sells glasses and optical instruments. Peter became famous for his successful business and for inventing a special type of lens called the apochromat.
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The Life of Peter Dollond
Peter Dollond was born in Kensington, England. He worked closely with his father, his younger brother, and later his nephew, George Dollond. Together, they designed and built many important optical instruments.
Inventing Better Lenses
Peter Dollond is especially known for inventing the triple achromatic lens in 1763. This special lens helps to correct colors that sometimes look blurry or fringed in older lenses. Today, this type of lens is still widely used, though it is often called the Cooke triplet.
Starting an Optics Business
At first, Peter Dollond worked in silk weaving, just like his father. But Peter loved optics so much that he left the silk business in 1750. He opened his own shop in Kennington, London, where he sold optical instruments. Two years later, his father also left silk weaving and joined Peter in the optics business.
Famous Telescopes
Dollond telescopes were very popular for over 150 years. People used them to look at stars or to see things on land. Even famous people owned them! For example, Admiral Lord Nelson had a Dollond telescope. Another one sailed with Captain Cook in 1769. Captain Cook used it to watch the Transit of Venus, which is when the planet Venus passes in front of the Sun. In 1772, Peter Dollond was chosen to be a member of the American Philosophical Society.
Other Inventions
Peter Dollond also improved other scientific tools. He made a better compound chest microscope around 1780. This microscope was based on earlier designs by Edward Nairne and Thomas Blunt. Around 1790, he designed a special tool called the compound monocular Eriometer. This tool was used to carefully measure the thickness of wool fibers.
Business Success and Patents
Peter Dollond's business grew a lot after he won a legal case. He had a patent for the achromatic lens, and he successfully sued other companies that tried to copy his invention. His father was a member of the Royal Society because of his work on the achromat. This helped the Dollond company get the best optical flint glass. This special advantage meant that Dollond could make better telescopes and optical instruments than their rivals for many years.
Notable Customers
Many important people bought instruments from Dollond & Co. Some of them included:
Company Merger
In 1927, Dollond & Co joined with Aitchison & Co. They formed a new company called Dollond & Aitchison. This company became a well-known chain of optician shops in Britain.
Peter Dollond's Family
Peter Dollond was married to Ann Phillips. They had two daughters named Louise and Anne.
