Robert Boyle, often referred to as "the father of modern chemistry," was a revolutionary scientific figure in his belief that all scientific disciplines should be subjected to the rigors of scientific experimentation, and that science itself could be explained through mathematical laws.

Boyle was born in Lismore, Ireland in 1627, the fourteenth child of Lord and Lady Cork. Boyle's father, who was the Earl of Cork, was one of the wealthiest men in the country, owning a large amount of land throughout Ireland. This would have a significant impact on Boyle, as it would provide him with the means to pursue his scientific research unencumbered by financial concerns for the rest of his life.

At the age of 8, Boyle and his brother Francis, who was four years older than Robert, were sent to Eton College to begin their education. Boyle would spend three years at Eton before returning home...