John Dalton
| John Dalton | |
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| Born |
6 September 1766 Eaglesfield, Cumberland, England |
| Died | 27 July 1844 (aged 77) Manchester, England Stroke |
| Nationality | British |
| Notable students | James Prescott Joule |
| Known for | Atomic theory, Law of Multiple Proportions, Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures, Daltonism |
| Influences | John Gough |
| Notable awards | Royal Medal (1826) |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Jn.Dalton |
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 Profiles in Chemistry:How John Dalton's meteorological studies led to the discovery of atoms on YouTube, Chemical Heritage Foundation
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John Dalton FRS (6 September 1766 – 27 July 1844) was an English chemist, physicist, and meteorologist. He is best known for his pioneering work in the development of modern atomic theory; and his research into colour blindness, sometimes referred to as Daltonism, in his honour.
John Dalton was born into a Quaker family in Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, in the county of Cumberland, England. His father was a weaver. He received his early education from his father and from Quaker John Fletcher, who ran a private school in the nearby village of Pardshaw Hall. With his family too poor to support him for long, he began to earn his living at the age of ten in the service of a wealthy local Quaker, Elihu Robinson. It is said he began teaching at a local school at age 12, and was proficient in Latin at age 14.
He joined his older brother Jonathan at age 15 in running a Quaker school in Kendal, about forty five miles from his home. Around age 23 Dalton may have considered studying law or medicine, but his relatives did not encourage him, perhaps because being a Dissenter, he was barred from attending English universities. He acquired much scientific knowledge from informal instruction by John Gough, a blind philosopher who was gifted in the sciences and arts. At age 27 he was appointed teacher of mathematics and natural philosophy at the "New College" in Manchester, a dissenting academy. He remained there until age 34, when the college's worsening financial situation led him to resign his post and begin a new career as a private tutor for mathematics and natural philosophy.
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