The History Of Science Includes Many Who Were Sustained By Quaker Tradition

The history of science and technology includes a remarkable number of well-known persons who were sustained in their scientific activity through their Quaker convictions. Among them: John Dalton of atomic theory fame; Abraham Darby of Coalbrookdale, England, who produced coke from coal for use in iron production, and thus ushered in the industrial revolution; Arthur Eddington, who confirmed Einstein's prediction that light travels on a curved path around the sun; and crystallographer Kathleen

| 3 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
3:00
Share

The history of science and technology includes a remarkable number of well-known persons who were sustained in their scientific activity through their Quaker convictions. Among them:

What made the Quakers such enthusiasts for science and technology? They were barred from Oxford and Cambridge, and thus from the professions, because they did not adhere to the Church of England. Also, they shared the Puritan fear of the emotions and stayed clear of music and the other arts.

What was left for them to do? For refreshment and recreation they were advised to enjoy nature and some became leading naturalists. And for their livelihoods they discovered emerging activities unrestricted by religious entrance tests--entrepreneurial industrial development and the ever-expanding world of science.

William Penn, Quaker and founder of Pennsylvania, in his Some Fruits of Solitude of 1692 showed how he saw the natural world relating to the inner world and to God. His ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

  • Theodor Benfey

    This person does not yet have a bio.

Published In

Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo
New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

New Frontiers in Vaccine Development

Sino

Products

Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Explore a Concise Guide to Optimizing Viral Transduction

A Visual Guide to Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Takara Bio
Inventia Life Science

Inventia Life Science Launches RASTRUM™ Allegro to Revolutionize High-Throughput 3D Cell Culture for Drug Discovery and Disease Research

An illustration of differently shaped viruses.

Detecting Novel Viruses Using a Comprehensive Enrichment Panel

Twist Bio