but, as it often happens, his discovery was neglected in his own country until taken up and adopted abroad. Young was elected Fellow as soon as he reached his twenty-first year, which confirms to a certain extent the stories of his remarkable youthful attainments.
Besides being an eminent physician and writer on medical subjects, he delivered a course of philosophical lectures, served on the Board of Longitude, edited the "Nautical Almanac," and, most important of all, prosecuted his profound studies upon the Egyptian hieroglyphics, which led in 1818 to the successful interpretation of these hitherto sealed histories.
1806 is the date of the Bakerian lecture before the Royal Society, "On Some Chemical Agencies in Electricity," by Sir Humphry Davy, then but twenty-eight years old, but already the best-known chemist of his day. This brilliant memoir produced a profound sensation, and his lecture-room at the Royal Institute became a fashionable resort. Its scientific import was at once recognized over all Europe.
Although England and France were at war, the Institute of France awarded Davy the handsome prize of three thousand francs, offered by Bonaparte for the experiments best calculated to promote science; and when, a few years later, Napoleon allowed him to travel through France, the Institute elected him corresponding member of the first class. Upon his return to England, in 1815, Sir Humphry began his memorable investigation upon fire-damp, which had caused such havoc to life by explosions in the coal-mines.
As the outcome of his experiments was the invention of the safety-lamp known by his name, one of the many beneficent contributions which science is constantly conferring upon humanity. Davy deliberately refused to gain the fortune which its invention would surely have brought him, but the coal-miners showed their gratitude by presenting him with a handsome service of plate, and the Government conferred a baronetcy upon him. He received all the honors of the Royal Society, the Copley, the Royal and the Rumford medals, and was president of the society for a number of years. Sir Humphry was a highly imaginative, poetical writer, and a consummate scientific lecturer, but his presidency of the society was not among his most successful acts. After he had become famous, wealthy, and courted, he became arrogant and haughty, and, forgetful of his own lowly origin, talked much of aristocracy and high connections; so that, when he died, many recalled the epigram pronounced upon poor Hooke. Davy kept up the custom of his predecessor in office, Sir Joseph Banks, by appearing in a full court-dress when presiding over the transactions of the society. Withal, his presidency was a brilliant one,
