John Anderson (natural philosopher)
| John Anderson | |
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| Born |
26 September 1726 Rosneath |
| Died | 13 January 1796 (aged 69) Glasgow |
John Anderson FRSE FRS FSA(Scot) (26 September 1726 – 13 January 1796) was a Scottish natural philosopher and liberal educator at the forefront of the application of science to technology in the industrial revolution, and of the education and advancement of working men and women. He was a joint founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and was the posthumous founder of Anderson's University (later Anderson's Institution), which ultimately evolved into the University of Strathclyde.
Anderson was born at the manse at Rosneath, the son of Rev James Anderson,Argyll and Bute. His father and grandfather were prominent ministers of the church, but after his father's death he was raised in Stirling by an aunt.
He graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1745.
During the Jacobite Rising of 1745 he served as an officer in the Hanoverian army.
From 1755-57 he was Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Glasgow, and from 1757 to 1796 Professor of Natural Philosophy.
In 1760 Anderson was appointed to the more congenial post of professor of natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow. He began to concentrate on physics. He had a love of experiments, practical mechanics and inventions. He encouraged James Watt in his development of steam power. He was acquainted with Benjamin Franklin, and installed the first lightning conductor in Glasgow.
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