William Cruickshank (chemist)

William Cruickshank († 1810 or 1811) was a Scottish military doctor, chemist and professor of chemistry at the Royal Military Academy in London's Woolwich.

He earned his master's degree in 1765 at King 's College, Aberdeen, and later received a diploma from the Royal College of Surgeons of England. As in 1788 at the Royal Military Academy chemistry classes was introduced, he became an assistant of Adair Crawford, with whom he was in 1790 probably encountered strontium. After his death he succeeded him in 1796 as a lecturer until he retired due to illness in 1804. His assistant MacCulloch took over his duties.

1802, shortly after Alessandro Volta had invented his voltaic pile, Cruickshank invented an improved version, the trough battery. It was the first mass-produced battery. He also carried out one of the first electrolysis and decomposed salt water.

He is often confused with William Cumberland Cruikshank ( 1745-1800 ).

Documents

• Scotsman
• Born in the 18th century
• Died in the 19th century
• Man
• Briton
• Chemists ( 18th century )
• Chemists ( 19th century)