Thomas Hutchins (naturalist) facts for kids
Thomas Hutchins (born around 1742, died 1790) was a British doctor and a scientist who studied nature. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company in Canada. He was known for his important scientific discoveries and his work as a surgeon.
Contents
A Life of Discovery
Working in the Canadian Wilderness
Thomas Hutchins worked as a surgeon for the Hudson's Bay Company. From 1766 to 1773, he was at York Factory in Manitoba. After that, he became the Governor of Albany Fort in Ontario from 1774 to 1782.
He was a very dedicated and hard-working doctor. He even found time to do scientific research. For example, he studied local plants that could be eaten. These plants were useful for preventing a sickness called scurvy, which was a big problem for sailors and explorers back then.
Observing the Stars and Weather
In 1768 and 1769, an astronomer named William Wales visited Hutchins. Wales was sent by the Royal Society to watch a rare event: the 1769 transit of Venus. This is when the planet Venus passes directly in front of the Sun. After his visit, Wales left equipment and instructions for Hutchins. This allowed Hutchins to record important weather information.
Studying Animals and Plants
Hutchins was encouraged by his boss, Andrew Graham, to keep notes on wildlife. From 1771 to 1772, he wrote down descriptions of many animals. Some of these animals had never been officially recorded before! It is thought that Andrew Graham also helped a lot with these nature notes. They worked together to share knowledge about the natural world.
Unlocking the Secrets of Mercury
The Royal Society also asked Hutchins to make observations about magnetic declination. This is the difference between true north and magnetic north. He made useful observations at Albany from 1775 to 1776.
One of his most famous achievements involved the element mercury. In 1775, he started experiments to find out when mercury freezes. Previous attempts had problems because mercury changes its size suddenly when it freezes. Hutchins designed a better way to do the experiment. After many careful tests between 1779 and 1782, he figured out that mercury freezes at about -39°F.
His work was highly praised by another famous scientist, Henry Cavendish. For this important discovery, Hutchins was given the Copley Medal in 1783. This is a very important award from the Royal Society.
Later Life and Legacy
After his time in Canada, Thomas Hutchins continued to work for the Hudson's Bay Company. He served as a secretary in London for the rest of his life.
He was elected as a member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1784. He passed away on July 7, 1790.
A type of goose, the Hutchins' goose (Branta hutchinsii), was named in his honor.
