Michael Faraday (1791-1867), British chemist and physicist. Despite lacking a formal education, Faraday made several major advances in chemistry, magnetism and electricity. He worked at the Royal Institution, London, rising from laboratory assistant to Humphrey Davy (1813), to Professor of Chemistry (1833). His lectures helped popularise science amongst the public. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1824, but rejected offers of a knighthood and the Royal Society presidency. Artwork from 'Electricite' (1911) by Max de Nansouty, part of the 'Les merveilles de la science' series of 1867-1891 by Louis Figuier.