Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1819-1877 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.91 metres
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
William Robert Grove was born the son of John Grove, a magistrate, and Anne Bevan, in Swansea, Wales, in 1811. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford and graduated in 1832. In 1835, he became a barrister at Lincoln's Inn and also became a member of the Royal Institution of Great Britain (RI) in the same year. In 1837 he married Emma Powles and they subsequently had six children. Despite his occupation in law, he was interested in science and researched into electrochemistry. He developed the Grove gas voltaic battery' in 1839, and also developed theGrove cell' using platinum for increased voltage. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840, and gained their Royal medal in 1847. In 1841 he became Professor of Experimental Philosophy at the London Institution, in Finsbury Square, London, where he also gave lectures. In 1846 he published On the Correlation of Physical Forces, which established the theory of the mutual convertibility of forces. He was a member of the Chemical Society; a Member of the Council of the Royal Society from 1846 to 1847 and became Secretary of the Royal Society from 1848 to 1849. He retired from being a barrister in 1853 due to ill health, but he also became part of Queen's Counsel in the same year. He then became a member of the Royal Commission on the Law of Patents in 1864, and a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas in 1871. In 1871 he was knighted. He became a Judge of the Queen's Bench in 1880 and Privy Councillor in 1887. He died in London in 1896.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0116 Sir William Robert Grove Collection 1819-1877 Collection (fonds) 0.91 metres Grove, Sir William Robert, 1811-1896. Knight. Natural Philosopher. Judge.
William Robert Grove was born the son of John Grove, a magistrate, and Anne Bevan, in Swansea, Wales, in 1811. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford and graduated in 1832. In 1835, he became a barrister at Lincoln's Inn and also became a member of the Royal Institution of Great Britain (RI) in the same year. In 1837 he married Emma Powles and they subsequently had six children. Despite his occupation in law, he was interested in science and researched into electrochemistry. He developed the Grove gas voltaic battery' in 1839, and also developed theGrove cell' using platinum for increased voltage. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1840, and gained their Royal medal in 1847. In 1841 he became Professor of Experimental Philosophy at the London Institution, in Finsbury Square, London, where he also gave lectures. In 1846 he published On the Correlation of Physical Forces, which established the theory of the mutual convertibility of forces. He was a member of the Chemical Society; a Member of the Council of the Royal Society from 1846 to 1847 and became Secretary of the Royal Society from 1848 to 1849. He retired from being a barrister in 1853 due to ill health, but he also became part of Queen's Counsel in the same year. He then became a member of the Royal Commission on the Law of Patents in 1864, and a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas in 1871. In 1871 he was knighted. He became a Judge of the Queen's Bench in 1880 and Privy Councillor in 1887. He died in London in 1896.
Papers of Sir William Robert Grove include correspondence to and from various recipients, 1839-1877 (GR1-GR3); Grove papers: printed and manuscript drafts, including notes on a tour of Wales (possibly by his father, John Grove); notes on electricity and on electrolytic and disruptive discharges, 1848; notes on magnetism and heat; notes on the influence of light on polarised electrodes, 1856; a dialogue of continuity; drafts for a presidential address, 1866-1867 (GR4).
As outlined in the scope and content field.
Access to bona fide researchers by appointment with the Keeper of the Collections or the Assistant Archivist, the Royal Institution of Great Britain (RI).
Reproduction of material is permitted at the discretion of the Keeper of the Collections, RI.
English
Card catalogue and General catalogue at the RI.
The Royal Institution of Great Britain holds a portrait of Sir William Robert Grove.
Sources: General catalogue at the RI. Detailed catalogue to be prepared. Description compiled by Miss Ivone Martins, Assistant Archivist, RI. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. April 2001. Court of Common Pleas Despretz , César Mansiete , 1792-1863 , French chemist Electric power Electrochemistry Energy resources England Europe Faraday , Michael , 1791-1867 , chemist and natural philosopher Gassiot , John Peter , 1797-1877 , scientific writer Glamorgan Grove , Sir , William Robert , 1811-1896 , Knight , natural philosopher and judge Hooker , Sir , Joseph Dalton , 1817-1911 , Knight , botanist Horner , Leonard , 1785-1864 , geologist Inns of Court , Lincoln's Inn x Lincoln's Inn Law Legal systems London London Institution Louyet , Paulin , fl 1845-1849 , French chemist Lyell , Sir , Charles , 1797-1875 , 1st Baronet , geologist Matteucci , Carlo , 1811-1868 , Italian physiologist and physicist Murchison , Sir , Roderick Impey , 1792-1871 , 1st Baronet , geologist Oxford Oxfordshire Phillips , John , 1800-1874 , geologist Physical chemistry Powell , Baden , 1796-1860 , Savilian Professor of Geometry Royal Institution of Great Britain Royal Society Royle , John Forbes , 1799-1858 , surgeon and naturalist Sabine , Sir , Edward , 1788-1883 , Knight , General and geophysicist Schoenbein , Christian Friedrich , 1799-1868 , Professor of Physics and Chemistry Science administration Séguin , Marc Ainé , 1786-1875 , French architect and inventor x Seguin , Marc Aine Swansea Talbot , William Henry , Fox , 1800-1877 , politician and pioneer of photography x Fox Talbot , William Henry Tyndall , John , 1820-1893 , natural philosopher UK Wales Western Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Papers of Sir William Robert Grove include correspondence to and from various recipients, 1839-1877 (GR1-GR3); Grove papers: printed and manuscript drafts, including notes on a tour of Wales (possibly by his father, John Grove); notes on electricity and on electrolytic and disruptive discharges, 1848; notes on magnetism and heat; notes on the influence of light on polarised electrodes, 1856; a dialogue of continuity; drafts for a presidential address, 1866-1867 (GR4).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
As outlined in the scope and content field.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to bona fide researchers by appointment with the Keeper of the Collections or the Assistant Archivist, the Royal Institution of Great Britain (RI).
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of material is permitted at the discretion of the Keeper of the Collections, RI.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
The Royal Institution of Great Britain holds a portrait of Sir William Robert Grove.
Finding aids
Card catalogue and General catalogue at the RI.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
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Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English