Michael Faraday’s significant contributions to electromagnetism have earned him worldwide admiration. He was awarded 97 honorary titles, numerous gold medals, and various certificates of recognition.
When the Royal Society of London was selecting a new president, many immediately thought of Faraday. Everyone believed that, given his contributions and reputation, he was more than deserving of the position and the ideal candidate. When the Royal Society sent a delegation to consult Faraday, he responded, “Please allow me to think it over.”
The next morning, they returned to Faraday’s home, and everyone was nervously awaiting his response, fearing he might decline the Society’s invitation. One of them said, “Dear Professor Faraday, I hope you will accept.”
Faraday smiled and replied, “So, you want to pressure me into accepting this position?”
“Yes, it is a responsibility that you should not refuse!”
At that moment, Faraday expressed his thoughts: “Leading the Royal Society is not a simple matter. I am a person who communicates little and is not accustomed to speaking. If I were president, it might not be suitable.”
At this point, Faraday’s wife interjected, “You see, he is simple-minded, like a big child. He could lead a small brigade of children, but being president of the Society seems too much for him.”
Ultimately, Faraday decided: “It seems best to let me remain an ordinary Faraday. If I take the presidency, I fear that in a year I might lose my pure knowledge.”
Despite everyone’s attempts to persuade him, Faraday firmly declined the offer, choosing to remain an ordinary Faraday. Throughout his life, he maintained a childlike heart, treating everyone with sincerity and kindness. He often wore an old apron, used his shirt sleeves for experiments, and even visitors sometimes mistook him for a janitor.
When Faraday became a professor at the Royal Society, each year during his holiday, he organized public science lectures for children and teenagers. Each time he held these events, they were lively and festive, bringing great joy to everyone. Parents brought their children to a packed auditorium, with kids even spilling out into the hallways to listen. He covered fundamental topics without omission, from chemistry and astronomy to electricity… whatever needed to be discussed, he would address. No matter how complex the concepts, he made them simple and engaging.
He maintained this public science lecture format for 19 years. Children and their parents loved it; even the two princes of the Queen were fans and attended his lectures. The children adored him; whenever he and his wife returned from church, they would gather by the roadside to greet him, asking him questions. Some would bow and greet him, then rush ahead to meet him again. Faraday found this delightful, and his wife affectionately called him the “Commander of the Children’s Brigade.”
Faraday’s friends published a popular science book on his behalf called “The Story of the Candle”, which explains why candles burn and where the wax goes afterward… the content is lively and engaging. In the book, Faraday wrote: He hoped the younger generation would be like candles, providing a little light and warmth, contributing to the common cause of humanity.
This was Faraday’s life; he burned brightly, sharing his light with others. He dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of truth, leaving behind a wealth of intellectual legacy for us. He was a great scientist.
“I cannot say that I do not cherish these honors, and I acknowledge their value, but I have never worked toward achieving them.“.
— Faraday –
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