b. 1778; d. 1829
Sir Humphrey Davy was an English chemist who worked closely with Thomas Wedgwood. Their work was very nearly a breakthrough, for they had made what one can best describe as photograms but unfortunately they were unable to find a method of fixing them.
In the report to the Royal Society, June 1802, Davy wrote: "The copy of a painting, or the profile, immediately after being taken, must be kept in an obscure place. It may indeed be examined in the shade, but, in this case, the exposure should be only for a few minutes; by the light of candles or lamps, as commonly employed, it is not sensibly affected."
Davy also discovered the electric arc light.
© Robert Leggat, 1997.