Historedia
Person

Humphry Davy

Events
6
Episodes
14
Years
1802–1816

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Humphry Davy, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. First published account of Thomas Wedgwood's photography experiments by Humphry Davy

    1802

    Role: Chemist and Author

    1. June 1802 · Journals of the Royal InstitutionPublication of Photographic Account

      Humphry Davy published the first account of Thomas Wedgwood's photographic experiments in the Journals of the Royal Institution in June 1802.

  2. Humphry Davy isolates potassium by electrolysis

    1807

    Role: Chemist and Inventor

    1. 1807 · Royal InstitutionIsolation of Potassium

      Humphry Davy isolated potassium from molten caustic potash using electrolysis, marking the first time a metal was obtained by this method.

  3. Humphry Davy announces isolation of calcium and boron by electrolysis

    1808–1809

    Role: Chemist and President of the Royal Society

    1. 30 June 1808 · Royal Society of LondonAnnouncement of Isolated Metals

      Davy reported the isolation of barium, calcium, strontium, and magnesium to the Royal Society on 30 June 1808.

    2. 1809 · Royal Society of LondonIsolation of Boron

      Observations from 1808 experiments led to the isolation of boron, noted in 1809.

  4. Bernard Courtois discovers iodine

    1811–1813

    Role: Acknowledger

    1. 1811 · Normandy and Brittany shoresDiscovery from Seaweed Ash

      Courtois discovered iodine in late 1811 by adding sulfuric acid to seaweed ash while producing saltpetre.

    2. 1813 · ParisRecognition of Courtois

      Davy and Gay-Lussac acknowledged Courtois as the true discoverer despite arguments over identification.

    3. 29 November 1813 · Imperial Institut de FrancePublic Announcement

      Desormes and Clément made Courtois' discovery public at the Imperial Institut de France in November 1813.

    4. 6 December 1813 · ParisGay-Lussac Identification

      Gay-Lussac announced the substance was an element on 6 December 1813 and named it iode in 1813.

  5. Davy lamp first tested underground at Hebburn Colliery

    1815–1816

    Role: Inventor

    1. 1815 · Hebburn HallGas Sampling at Hebburn

      Davy collected methane gas samples from Hebburn Colliery in 1815 for safety lamp experiments.

    2. 1816-01 · Hebburn mineGauze Performance

      The lamp's gauze absorbed fire damp, allowing effective illumination during the trial.

    3. 1816-01-09 · Hebburn CollieryFirst Underground Trial

      The Davy lamp was first tested underground at Hebburn Colliery on January 9, 1816.

  6. Humphry Davy announces the Davy safety lamp

    1815

    Role: Inventor

    1. 1815 · LondonWire-Gauze Principle

      Davy's design used wire gauze to prevent flame spread, differing from Stephenson's perforated plate design.

    2. 3 November 1815 · NewcastleNewcastle Announcement

      Davy's private letter describing safety lamp findings was made public at a Newcastle meeting on 3 November 1815.

    3. 9 November 1815 · LondonRoyal Society Presentation

      A paper describing the Davy lamp was formally presented at a Royal Society meeting in London on 9 November 1815.

Sources

  1. Thomas Wedgwood (photographer) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-26
  2. Humphry Davy Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
  3. Iodine Wikipedia, revision of 2026-10-01
  4. Bernard Courtois Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-21
  5. Davy lamp Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-02