William Vernon Harcourt (scientist) facts for kids

William Venables-Vernon Harcourt (born 1789, died April 1871) was an English church leader and a very important scientist. He helped start the British Association for the Advancement of Science, which is a big group that helps science grow. He also worked at York Cathedral and later became a rector (a type of church leader) in Bolton Percy.

Who Was William Harcourt?

William Harcourt was born in Sudbury, Derbyshire. His father, Edward Vernon-Harcourt, was the Archbishop of York, a very high-ranking church position. His mother, Lady Anne Leveson-Gower, came from an important family too.

Early Life and Education

Before becoming a church leader, William Harcourt spent five years serving in the navy, sailing in the West Indian station. After this, his father allowed him to become a clergyman. He went to Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university, in 1807. He studied there until 1815, earning his B.A. degree in 1811 and his M.A. degree in 1814. He was good friends with some of his teachers, including Dr. John Kidd, who taught chemistry and inspired him.

Starting His Career

In 1811, after leaving university, Harcourt began his work as a clergyman in Bishopthorpe, Yorkshire. He was also very interested in science and helped to create a science institution in Yorkshire. He even built his own laboratory and spent time doing chemical experiments, often with his friends, famous scientists like Davy and Wollaston.

Harcourt's Contributions to Science

William Harcourt played a huge role in developing science in Britain. He helped create important scientific groups and made his own discoveries.

Founding the Yorkshire Philosophical Society

In 1821, amazing remains of ancient animals were found by William Buckland in a cave called Kirkdale. These discoveries became the start of a museum connected to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. William Harcourt was chosen as the very first president of this society, showing how much people trusted his leadership in science. In 1824, he became a member of the Royal Society, which is a highly respected group for scientists.

Creating the British Association for the Advancement of Science

One of Harcourt's biggest achievements was helping to create the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The first meeting of this important group happened in York in September 1831. William Harcourt wrote the main plans and rules for how the association would work, and he became its first general secretary.

In 1839, he was chosen as the president of the association's meeting in Birmingham. In his speech, he talked about how water is made up of different elements. He also strongly believed that scientists should be free to explore and discover new things without limits. Harcourt also studied how heat affects different chemical compounds.

Working with Glass

For 40 years, Harcourt worked on making special types of glass that could be used to create better achromatic lenses. These lenses are important for things like telescopes and microscopes because they help to make images clearer by reducing color problems. He worked with another famous scientist, George Stokes, on this project.

Harcourt's Church and Community Work

Besides his scientific work, William Harcourt was also a dedicated church leader and helped his community in many ways.

Church Roles

In 1824, he became a canon at York Cathedral and a rector in Wheldrake, Yorkshire. Later, in 1837, he became the rector of Bolton Percy, Yorkshire. These roles meant he was an important leader in the church.

Helping His Community

William Harcourt cared deeply about people. He helped start the Yorkshire School for the Blind, which provided education and support for people who couldn't see. He also helped create the Castle Howard Reformatory, which was a place to help young people who had gotten into trouble. Many other good institutions were started because of his efforts.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1861, when his older brother passed away, William Harcourt inherited the family estates at Nuneham Courtenay in Oxfordshire. He spent his later years at Nuneham House, surrounded by his books and enjoying the company of other educated and scientific people.

William Harcourt passed away in April 1871, when he was 81 years old.

His Family

In 1824, William Harcourt married Matilda Mary Gooch. They had two sons and five daughters. Some of his notable children include:

• Edward William Harcourt (1825–1891)
• The Right Honorable Sir William Vernon Harcourt (1827–1904), who became a well-known politician.
• Cecilia Caroline Harcort, who married Admiral Sir Edward Rice.

Around 1830, he changed his family name from Vernon-Harcourt to Harcourt.

His Writings

William Harcourt also wrote several books and papers, sharing his knowledge and ideas. Some of his works include:

• Letter to Henry Lord Brougham, F.R.S. &c., Containing Remarks on Certain Statements in his Lives of Black, Watt and Cavendish (1846)
• Symmetrical psalmody; or, Portions of the Psalms and other Scriptures, tr. into metrical stanzas, with corresponding accents in corresponding verses, for Musical Use (1855)
• Sermons, with an introduction by W. F. Hook (1873)