George Adams (1750-1795)

George Adams Jr. (* 1750 in London, † 1795 ) was an English instrument maker and science writers.

Life

George Adams Jr. was born in 1750 in London. His father George Adams senior ran a successful Instrumentenbaumanufaktur who was especially famous for their telescopes and microscopes. After his father's death in 1773 George Adams took over the company and the title " Mathematical Instrument Maker to His Majesty's Office of Ordnance, Mathematical Instrument Maker in Ordinary to His Majesty, and Optician to the Prince of Wales. He led the company successfully until his early death 1795. Thereafter, it was continued by his younger brother Dudley.

Services

Adams was regarded by contemporaries as a leading manufacturer of mathematical and scientific instruments. He designed and sold, among other things: Circles and other drawing instruments, surveying instruments, target devices for howitzers and mortars, telescopes, compasses, spectacles, microscopes, planetariums, electric batteries, electric meters, magnets, pumps, Magdeburg hemispheres, barometer, thermometer, hygrometer. Furthermore, he offered a variety of experimental setups for demonstrating physical phenomena of all kinds.

However, the universal education of George Adams went over the technique of instrument building addition. For example, he adds a book on microscopes also equal to a treatise on insects and a list of species of freshwater polyps and ciliates at ( Damerow, Lefevre, Introduction, p 8). From observations of William Herschel, he estimated the total number of fixed stars in the universe to 75 million.

Georg Christoph Lichtenberg George Adams mentioned several times in his Sudelbüchern and visited him in 1775 during a trip to England.

Works (selection)

• An essay on electricity explaining the theory and practice of science did useful; and the mode of applying it to medical purposes. To Which is added an essay on magnetism. London 1784 German translation by Johann Samuel Traugott Gehler. Essay on Electricity, worinn theory and practice of this science is explained by a set of ordered methodical experiments, together with an attempt on magnetism. Leipzig 1785 ( digitized and full text in German Text Archive )
• Essays on the microscope. London 1787
• An essay on vision, Briefly explaining the fabrice of the eye and the nature of vision; Intended for the service Of Those Whose eyes are weak or impaired. . London 1789 German translation of Fr Kries -Gotha: Instruction for the conservation of the face and the knowledge of the nature of seeing. Leipzig 1794
• Astronomical and geographical essays. London 1789
• A short dissertation on the barometers, thermometers, and other meteorological instruments; together with an account on the prognostic signs of the weather. London 1790
• Geometrical and graphical essays Containing a general description of the mathematical instruments used in geometry, civil and military surveying, leveling, and perspective. London 1791 German translation of Johann Gottlieb Geissler. Geometrical and graphical essays or description of the mathematical instruments whose use is made in the geometry, civil and Militair survey, in leveling and in perspective. Leipzig 1795