Physiology Gallery

The Airpump by Joseph Wright

The Air Pump by Joseph Wright (1734-1797). This artwork was painted in 1768. Its full title is An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump and is the second of the series of candlelight compositions that established Wright's name. It depicts a public demonstration of the effects of a vacuum created by an air pump using a live bird (top centre). The vacuum suffocates the bird and leads to a painful death, and a distressed female spectator can be seen (right). The Air Pump was influenced by meetings between Wright and his friends, when they demonstrated experiments and discussed the latest scientific developments

© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

John Fuller, English philanthropist

John Fuller (1757-1834), English philanthropist. Fuller was born at North Stoneham, Hampshire. At the age of four he lost his father, the local clergyman, and at ten was sent to Eton College. In 1777 Fuller's uncle died, leaving him estates in Sussex and plantations in Jamaica. He stood for parliament in 1780, representing Southampton until 1784 then Sussex from 1801 to 1812. His wealth allowed him to indulge in philanthropy. He was a supporter and sponsor of the Royal Institution in London, he once lent them 1000 pounds and never asked for it back. He endowed the Fullerian chairs in chemistry and physiology, built an observatory in his estate at Brightling in Sussex, paid for the first lifeboat at Eastbourne and a lighthouse at Beachy Head. Much admired by the public, he was popularly known as Mad Jack'. This painting by Henry Singleton hangs at the Royal institution in London

© ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

John Mad Jack Fuller, philanthropist

John Fuller (1757-1834), English philanthropist. Fuller was born at North Stoneham, Hampshire. At the age of four he lost his father, the local clergyman, and at ten was sent to Eton College. In 1777 Fuller's uncle died, leaving him estates in Sussex and plantations in Jamaica. He stood for parliament in 1780 and was elected, representing Southampton until 1784 then Sussex from 1801 to 1812. His wealth allowed him to indulge in philanthropy. He was a supporter and sponsor of the Royal Institution in London, he once lent them £1000 (about £100, 000 in modern value) and never asked for it back. He endowed the Fullerian chairs in chemistry and physiology, built an observatory in his estate at Brightling in Sussex, paid for the first lifeboat at Eastbourne and paid for a lighthouse to be built at Beachy Head. Much admired by the public, he was affectionately known as Mad Jack Fuller

© ROYAL INSTITUTION OF GREAT BRITAIN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY