Sir Charles Wheatstone 1802-1875 –
Scientist and Inventor, Fellow of the Royal Society
Charles Wheatstone developed and invented many things during his
lifetime: he patented the concertina, invented the stereoscope, co-invented
electrical telegraph, invented the Playfair cipher and developed the
Wheatstone bridge.
Charles was born on 6 February 1802 in Gloucester. His father William was
a music seller in the town, who in 1806 relocated to 128 Pall Mall, London
and became a teacher of the flute. At 14 Charles was apprenticed to his
Uncle Charles, a maker and seller of musical instruments at 436 Strand,
London, but he did not enjoy the work and preferred to study books. Charles
and his brother William, took over their uncle’s business when he died in
1823, but after six years Charles retired from the business.
On the 1841 census Charles is living in Hanover Square, Middlesex aged 35
and a Professor of Experimental Philosophy. Living with him are his brother
William Wheatstone, aged 35 a Musical Instrument Maker and his sister Sophia
Ann Wheatstone, aged 40.
He married Emma West, the daughter of a Taunton tradesman, John Hooke
West, at Christchurch, Marylebone on 12 February 1847 and they had five
children.
On the 1851 census he is living in Lower Mall, Hammersmith, Middlesex
with his wife Emma, their son and two daughters, as well as four servants.
His occupation is given as Professor of Experimental Phylosophy [stet] Kings
College.
On the 1861 census Charles is still living in Lower Mall, Hammersmith,
Middlesex with wife Emma, their three daughters and four servants, his
occupation is House Proprietor.
His wife died in 1866, so sadly she did not see Charles become a knight
in 1868.
On the 1871 census Charles is living in Marylebone, London, he is shown
as being a widower, living with his sister, his daughter and five servants.
His occupation is shown as Knight.
Whilst in Paris developing another of his projects, he caught a cold
which led to inflammation of the lungs and he died on 19 October 1875. His
body was returned to London to be buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
His daughter Ada’s husband, Robert Sabine, was the Executor of his will
which was proved in London on 9 November 1875, the value of his effects was
under £80,000.
James Wood, known as Jemmy, was born on 7 October 1756, the third child
and only son of Richard and Elizabeth Wood of Westgate Street, Gloucester.
He
was baptised on 19 October 1756 at St Michael's church (photo) in lower
Westgate. Jemmy’s father was a businessman who owned a draper’s shop in
Westgate Street. His grandfather had founded The Gloucester Old Bank in
1716, at 22 Westgate Street, one of the earliest private banks in England.
He joined his father in the family business, and took over the running of
the bank after the death of his father in 1792. As well as his banking
business he owned much land around Gloucester and had an undertaker’s
business.
He
served as Sheriff of Gloucester in 1811 and 1813 and was an alderman for
sixteen years. He never held the post of Mayor though, and it is thought
this was due to the expense of holding the office. He was shrewd financier,
but renowned for his miserliness and shabby clothes. His wealth multiplied
even during periods of recession.
Jemmy was buried in St Mary De Crypt Church in Southgate Street. It was
reported that when his coffin was carried through the streets, people jeered
and clapped. He left an estate valued at £900,000, (around £40,000,000
today) most of which was consumed by legal arguments over his will. He is
mentioned in Charles Dickens' book "Our Mutual Friend", and is thought to
have been the inspiration for Dickens to create "Scrooge".