A 19th Century inventor and pioneer of electricity, Michael Faraday's discoveries include electrolysis, electromagnetic induction and the electric motor. Queen Victoria was so delighted with Faraday's contributions to science - among other things, as a chemist he also discovered benzene and invented an early form of the Bunsen burner - that she offered him both the use of Hampton Court Palace, which he accepted, and a title, which he declined. Interestingly, Faraday rejected the knighthood on religious grounds - believing it was against God's will in the Bible to gather huge riches and to seek material gratification in the form of earthly titles. Strange that he accepted the use of Hampton Court then... He instead insisted: "I prefer to remain plain Mr Faraday to the end."
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
