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Some notes on the life of Henry Cavendish: Cavendish had a strong aversion to publishing. In his over fifty year career he published fewer than twenty papers and not a single book. "To the outside world Cavendish appeared to be a shabby, eccentric man who spoke little and then only hesitantly in a shrill, thin voice... Even among fellow scientists he was so taciturn as to lead Lord Brougham, who knew him, to remark that he `probably uttered fewer words in the course of his life than any man who ever lived to fourscore years, not at all excepting the monks of La Trappe.' " "Except at meetings of fellow scientists, he almost never appeared in public and was so pronounced a misogynist that he communicated with his housekeeper by daily notes and ordered all female domestics to keep out of his sight. Not only did he not marry, he apparently never formed a sympathetic attachment with any person outside of his family. The costume he usually wore consisted of a faded, crumpled violet suit of an earlier time, with a high collar and frilled cuffs, and a three-cornered hat" (Britannica). Cavendish was nearly obsessed with making scientific observations, even, as legend has it, until the very moments of his death. It was reported by Lord Brougham that on his deathbed Cavendish wanted to be left alone so he could accurately observe and record the progress of his disease throughout his body. To view a gallery of our antique books please click here. |
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