Joseph Priestley
Born March 24, 1733
Fieldhead, England
Died February 6, 1804
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Scientist, philosopher, teacher, minister
"Truth can never have a fair chance of being discovered, or propagated, without the most perfect freedom of inquiry and debate."
Joseph Priestley is credited for being one of the founding fathers of the science known as chemistry. In addition to discovering oxygen, he conducted experiments with fixed air (carbon dioxide), which eventually led to the development of carbonated beverages, or soda pop. His good friend Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) aroused his interest in electricity, and it was Priestley who discovered that graphite is a useful electrical conductor. In addition to his scientific interests, Priestley was a published philosopher whose beliefs differed from the religious majority of the day. As a result, he and his family were outcasts, subjected to ridicule and physical violence. Priestley brought to America a new religion—Unitarianism—although the movement would not be referred to as such for years to come.
A Curious Mind Leads to Internal Conflict
Joseph Priestley was born the oldest of six siblings to Jonas (a weaver) and Mary (a farmer's daughter) near Leeds, England, on March 13, 1733. When the Gregorian calendar (the one used today) came into use in 1751, Priestley changed his birth date to March 24.
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