Cavendish, George

Cavendish died on February 24,1810. The several accounts of his last hours are similar, but differ in certain details. According to one story, when he realized that he was dying, he rang for his valet and gave him the following instructions Mind what I say, I am going to die. When I am dead, but not before then, go to Lord George... 

George Wilson, Life of the Honorable Henry Cavendish, etc., London, 1851, p. 181. 

Cavendish was fascinated by such stories. He read also about Franklin s experiments with atmospheric electricity—how he had flown a kite in the summer of 1752 and felt the electric shock of the thunderstorm. This force must be a powerful weapon, thought Cavendish, for a year later Dr. Georg Rich-mann who tried the same experiment had been killed. Here was a potent instrument which the chemist might use to solve great mysteries. 

George Peacock], Arago and Brougham on Black, Cavendish, Priesdey and Watt , Quarterly Review,11 (1845) 105-139, onpp. 114,131,133. 

Henry Cavendish discovered what would he known as Ohm s law about fifty years earlier than Georg Simon Ohm did. However, as Cavendish did not publish his observations, the law has been attributed to Ohm. 

Cavendish left behind him an immense amount of apparatus, which was inherited by Lord George Caven- dish. From him it passed into the possession of various j parties, but the Earl of Burlington, Sir Humphry Davy, and Mr. Newman of Regent Street, obtained the greater ( part of it. By them or their heirs it has to a great extent i - been dispersed among those likely to value it. ... 

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