Samuel Haughton facts for kids
Samuel Haughton (born December 21, 1821 – died October 31, 1897) was an important Irish person. He was a clergyman (a religious leader), a medical doctor, and a scientist who wrote many papers.
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Samuel Haughton's Life Story
Samuel Haughton was born in Carlow, Ireland. His father was also named Samuel Haughton. His family had a history of being involved in important causes. For example, his uncle, James Haughton, was a strong supporter of helping others. He worked against slavery and was a vegetarian.
Early Education and Achievements
Samuel Haughton had a brilliant career at Trinity College Dublin. In 1844, he became a "fellow," which is a special academic position. He worked on mathematical models and, in 1848, he won the Cunningham Medal. This is a very important award from the Royal Irish Academy.
In 1847, he became a priest, but he didn't preach much. His main focus was on science. In 1851, he became a professor of geology at Trinity College. He held this job for 30 years!
Becoming a Doctor
Haughton started studying medicine in 1859. He earned his medical degree (MD) from Trinity College Dublin in 1862. He then became the registrar of the Medical School. This meant he helped manage and improve the school. He worked hard to make the school better and represented the university on the General Medical Council.
Supporting Women in Education
Samuel Haughton was a forward-thinking person. In 1858, he became a fellow of the Royal Society, a very respected scientific group. He also received special degrees from famous universities like Oxford and Cambridge.
He made history at Trinity College Dublin. On March 10, 1880, he suggested that women should be allowed to earn degrees at the university. He believed women were just as capable as men. Even though his idea was not accepted right away, he kept fighting for it until he died in 1897. Five years after his death, in 1902, his idea finally became a reality.
Scientific Work and Railways
Haughton wrote many scientific papers. He studied things like how objects balance, how things move, and how the sun's heat affects the climate and tides. He also studied different types of rocks, like granite, in Ireland.
He was also a leader in important groups. He was president of the Royal Irish Academy from 1886 to 1891. For 20 years, he was the secretary of the Royal Zoological Society of Ireland.
Samuel Haughton was also involved with the Dublin and Kingstown Railway company. He helped build the first locomotives for this railway. It was the first railway company in the world to build its own trains!
Making Executions More Humane
In 1866, Samuel Haughton used his scientific knowledge to study how to make hanging a more humane method of execution. He wanted to ensure it was quick and painless. He published his findings, suggesting specific calculations to achieve this. Later, he was part of a committee that created a "Table of Drops" based on his scientific work.
Samuel Haughton and Charles Darwin
Samuel Haughton was one of the first people to comment on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Darwin's ideas were presented in 1858. Haughton read about them and spoke about them in 1859.
Darwin later said that Haughton's opinion was that "all that [was] new in there was false, and what was true was old." This meant Haughton thought Darwin's new ideas were wrong, and any true parts were already known. Haughton believed Darwin's theory was mostly guesswork. He also thought that many of Darwin's ideas were similar to those of an earlier scientist named Lamarck.
Belief in Design and Evolution
Haughton's work on how animals move and are built led him to believe in a "Divine mind." He thought that a creator designed all living things.
In his book Animal Mechanics (1873), he wrote that the "Framer of the Universe" designed muscles to work as well as possible. He believed that evolution, or how species change over time, was guided by a "Divine mind." This meant he thought nothing was left to chance in the development of life.
Publications
Samuel Haughton wrote several important books and papers:
- Manual of Geology (1865)
- Principles of Animal Mechanics (1873)
- Six Lectures on Physical Geography (1880)
He also worked with his friend, Joseph Allen Galbraith, to create a series of books called Manuals of Mathematical and Physical Science.
