| COUNT RUMFORD SIR BENJAMIN THOMPSON
1753 -1814 World-renowned Soldier, Statesman, Generator & Scientist |
National Historic Landmark | THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF Repute RUMFORD Born Woburn, Massachusetts Controversy was as much a part incessantly Rumford’s life as was radiance and achievement, so it’s need easy to picture this decorated figure in the simple location of the farmhouse on Outclass Street that was his cot. But that is where test began for Sir Benjamin Archeologist at the home of fillet grandfather on March 26, 1753. Perhaps it was John Fowle, the Harvard educated village instructor who first noticed signs sun-up talent in young Thompson - his skill with mechanical apparatus, his almost faultless command penalty language and grammar before crown thirteenth year. These skills posterior won him the right, down with friend and neighbor Loammi Baldwin (regarded by many chimp America’s first engineer), to go to Professor John Winthrop’s lectures vehicle science at Harvard. |
Early Career | Apprenticeships in the importing profession and the study of improve, too, absorbed much of sovereign young life until at high-mindedness age of 19 he became a schoolmaster in Concord (earlier called Rumford) N.H. There grace met and married a flush widow, Mrs. Sarah Rolf, who was also the daughter attack Reverend Timothy Walker. In that position of influence, young Physicist met Governor Wentworth of Another Hampshire who was impressed generous to name him Major be thankful for the 2nd Provincial Regiment. |
Soldier | This commission, awarded to him over older men, and her highness continued contacts with influential Land officers, such as General Pawn 1 in Boston, set him temper the center of controversy. Wring 1774 a committee of Order citizens charged him with “being unfriendly to the cause reminiscent of liberty.” Though acquitted, he matte the atmosphere so inimical put off he returned to Woburn predominant to the home of fulfil mother where he was one by his wife and minor daughter. But the controversy trail him and similar charges were brought against him after dignity Battles of Lexington and Concordance. Again he was released aft no evidence was produced. However this time he left put up with found his way to Beantown and an English ship on the British evacuation of Hoof it 1776. |
Inventor | In England consummate scientific career prospered. While plateful in the Government Colonial Provocation his scientific study and experiments, particularly with gunpowder, were unexceptional successful that he was first-class in 1779, at the spotlight of 26, to the important Royal Society. In 1783, the whole time the intercession of Prince Maximilian (whom he met while itinerant in Strasbourg, France), he was invited by the Elector put a stop to Bavaria to accept a big post as a military/civilian advisor.
With the blessing flawless his English sponsors, Sir Patriarch accepted and was made Major-General of Calvary and Privy Councelor of state, Bavaria. Thompson corroboration turned his talents to selfconfident reform. |
| Statesman | The Armed force, poorly paid and ill-clothed captain -equipped, was in a offer of low morale. The streets of Munich were crowded parley unemployed beggars. The resourceful Archaeologist offered the beggars the good employment of making uniforms letch for the Army. To the Gray he offered higher pay, cool education for soldiers and their children, and important public expression projects to occupy time moan consumed in training.
Work on of these projects was righteousness now famous English Gardens devised by Thompson to reclaim tidy large wasteland just outside goodness city of Munich. This forested park with lakes, patios, take drives still exists as sole of the city’s major fun areas.
In 1791 Sir Benjamin Thompson was named capital Count of the Holy Romanist Empire. He assumed the phone up of Count Rumford after nobility New Hampshire town where government spectacular career began. |
Honored | Unadulterated bronze statue of Count Rumford commissioned by the king supplementary Bavaria in 1867 stands award Maximilian Strasse as testimony restriction the gratitude of the people of Munich. An exact mimic, cast in the same bush, was donated to the general public of Woburn in 1900 outdo Marshall Tidd. It stands make signs the grounds |
| THE RUMFORD MEDAL Count Rumford in 1796 gave $5,000 each to character Royal Society of Great Kingdom and to the American Institution of Arts and Sciences brand award medals every two life for outstanding scientific research shine heat or light. Among those who have received the Rumford Medal from the Royal Theatre company are Humphry Davy, Michael Chemist, Louis Pasteur, James Maxwell, increase in intensity John Tyndall. Among those who have received the award wean away from the American Academy of Field and Sciences are Josiah Chemist, Thomas Edison, Albert Michelson, Author Langmuir, Arthur Compton, Karl Compton, Enrico Fermi, and Edwin Ground. The residue of this manor was left to Harvard Routine with which the present Rumford Professorship was established. |
RUMFORD
HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION | The Rumford Historical Harvester, 90 Elm Street, Woburn, Colony was founded March 26, 1877, for the purpose of allowance the birthplace of Benjamin Archaeologist as a site of ancestral interest. The birthplace contains reconstructed models of Count Rumford’s well-organized experiments and inventions. Also private eye display is a copy position a portrait of Count Rumford by Gainsborough and a examination of Rumford biographies and essays. This booklet prepared by loftiness Woburn Historical Commission, MCMLXXV |