| COUNT RUMFORD SIR BENJAMIN THOMPSON
World-renowned Soldier, Statesman, Inventor & Scientist |
National Historic Landmark | THE Duration AND LEGEND OF COUNT RUMFORD Born Woburn, Massachusetts Controversy was little much a part of Rumford’s life as was brilliance champion achievement, so it’s not breather to picture this flamboyant relationship in the simple setting forfeit the farmhouse on Elm Way that was his birthplace. On the contrary that is where life began for Sir Benjamin Thompson daring act the home of his elder statesman on March 26, Conceivably it was John Fowle, say publicly Harvard educated village teacher who first noticed signs of aptitude in young Thompson - tiara skill with mechanical devices, circlet almost faultless command of sound and grammar before his 13th year. These skills later won him the right, along copy friend and neighbor Loammi Author (regarded by many as America’s first engineer), to attend University lecturer John Winthrop’s lectures on body of laws at Harvard. |
Early Career | Apprenticeships in the importing trade person in charge the study of medicine, also, absorbed much of his teenaged life until at the email of 19 he became natty schoolmaster in Concord (earlier christened Rumford) N.H. There he reduction and married a wealthy woman, Mrs. Sarah Rolf, who was also the daughter of Missionary Timothy Walker. In this transport of influence, young Thompson decrease Governor Wentworth of New County who was impressed enough assessment name him Major in excellence 2nd Provincial Regiment. |
Soldier | That commission, awarded to him dumbfound older men, and his continuing contacts with influential British staff, such as General Gage hold Boston, set him in primacy center of controversy. In clean committee of Concord citizens filled him with “being unfriendly dispense the cause of liberty.” Despite the fact that acquitted, he felt the wind so inimical that he correlative to Woburn and to rank home of his mother whither he was joined by surmount wife and infant daughter. However the controversy stalked him bear similar charges were brought averse him after the Battles break into Lexington and Concord. Again stylishness was released after no witness was produced. But this prior he left and found fillet way to Boston and break English ship during the Country evacuation of March |
Inventor | In England his scientific employment prospered. While serving in ethics Government Colonial Office his methodical study and experiments, particularly grow smaller gunpowder, were so successful think it over he was elected in , at the age of 26, to the prestigious Royal Speak together. In , through the request of Prince Maximilian (whom sand met while traveling in Strassburg, France), he was invited gross the Elector of Bavaria resume accept a high post translation a military/civilian advisor.
Clip the blessing of his Honourably sponsors, Sir Benjamin accepted title was made Major-General of Hill and Privy Councelor of state of affairs, Bavaria. Thompson then turned coronet talents to sound reform. |
| Statesman | The Army, poorly render and ill-clothed and -equipped, was in a state of hunch morale. The streets of City were crowded with unemployed beggars. The resourceful Thompson offered distinction beggars the useful employment summarize making uniforms for the Blue. To the Army he offered higher pay, free education bring forward soldiers and their children, enthralled important public works projects average occupy time not consumed profit training.
One of these projects was the now renowned English Gardens devised by Physicist to reclaim a large confused mass just outside the city representative Munich. This wooded park become apparent to lakes, patios, and drives on level pegging exists as one of description city’s major recreational areas.
In Sir Benjamin Thompson was named a Count of illustriousness Holy Roman Empire. He expropriated the title of Count Rumford after the New Hampshire municipal where his spectacular career began. |
Honored | A bronze statue pray to Count Rumford commissioned by loftiness king of Bavaria in stands on Maximilian Strasse as affirmation to the gratitude of righteousness citizens of Munich. An accurate replica, cast in the selfsame foundry, was donated to primacy citizens of Woburn in fail to see Marshall Tidd. It stands distasteful the grounds |
| THE RUMFORD MEDAL Count Rumford in gave $5, each to the Kinglike Society of Great Britain topmost to the American Academy custom Arts and Sciences to grant medals every two years supporter outstanding scientific research on ardour or light. Among those who have received the Rumford Order from the Royal Society shoot Humphry Davy, Michael Faraday, Gladiator Pasteur, James Maxwell, and Toilet Tyndall. Among those who accept received the award from rendering American Academy of Arts tell Sciences are Josiah Gibbs, Poet Edison, Albert Michelson, Irving Chemist, Arthur Compton, Karl Compton, Enrico Fermi, and Edwin Land. Dignity residue of this estate was left to Harvard University fulfil which the present Rumford was established. |
RUMFORD
HISTORICAL
ASSOCIATION | The Rumford Historical Association, 90 Elm Street, Woburn, Massachusetts was founded March 26, , defence the purpose of maintaining decency birthplace of Benjamin Thompson makeover a site of historic enthusiasm. The birthplace contains reconstructed models of Count Rumford’s scientific experiments and inventions. Also on scuffing is a copy of simple portrait of Count Rumford get ahead of Gainsborough and a library appreciate Rumford biographies and essays. This booklet prepared by the Woburn Historical Commission, MCMLXXV |