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[[File:George Birkbeck 1776–1841 by Samuel Lane 1830.jpg|thumb|George Birkbeck by [[Samuel Lane]]. Oil, 1830.]]
[[File:George Birkbeck 1776–1841 by Samuel Lane 1830.jpg|thumb|George Birkbeck by [[Samuel Lane]]. Oil, 1830.]]
[[File:George Birkbeck mausoleum Kensal Green Cemetery 02.JPG|thumb|The George Birkbeck family mausoleum at [[Kensal Green Cemetery]], London]]
[[File:George Birkbeck mausoleum Kensal Green Cemetery 02.JPG|thumb|The George Birkbeck family mausoleum at [[Kensal Green Cemetery]], London]]
'''George Birkbeck''' [[Royal Society of London|FRS]] ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜːr|k|ˌ|b|ɛ|k}}; 10 January 1776 – 1 December 1841)<ref>[https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24185970M/The_pedigree_of_Birkbeck_of_Mallerstang_and_Settle_Braithwaite_of_Kendal_Benson_of_Stang_End Foster 1890, Birkbeck Pedigree p.87]</ref> was a British [[physician]], [[academic]], [[philanthropist]], pioneer in [[adult education]] and a professor of natural philosophy at the [[University of Strathclyde|Andersonian Institute]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} He is the founder of [[Birkbeck, University of London]] and was head of the [[Chemical Society]]. He is one of the creators of the earliest chemistry laboratory for undergraduates at [[University College London]], and is also known for the creation of [[mechanics' institutes]] in Scotland and [[London]].
'''George Birkbeck''' [[Royal Society of London|FRS]] ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜːr|k|ˌ|b|ɛ|k}}; 10 January 1776 – 1 December 1841) was a British [[physician]], [[academic]], [[philanthropist]], pioneer in [[adult education]] and a professor of natural philosophy at the [[University of Strathclyde|Andersonian Institute]]. He is the founder of [[Birkbeck, University of London]] and was head of the [[Chemical Society]]. He is one of the creators of the earliest chemistry laboratory for undergraduates at [[University College London]], and is also known for the creation of [[mechanics' institutes]] in Scotland and [[London]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
Born to a [[Quaker]] family (his father was a merchant and banker) in [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], Birkbeck went to [[Sedbergh School]] and then completed his training as a doctor at the [[University of Edinburgh Medical School]] in 1799 with an MD degree. He is of the same Birkbeck family as early 19th-century Illinois pioneer, social reformer, author, publicist and agricultural innovator [[Morris Birkbeck]].<ref>S.B. Foster, The pedigree of Birkbeck of Mallerstang and Settle, Braithwaite of Kendal, Benson of Stang End, (London: Collingridge, 1890), pp. 81–85.</ref> Before practising as a physician, however, he initially embarked on an academic career, being appointed professor of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institution,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} which later became the [[University of Strathclyde]] in [[Glasgow]].
Born on 10 January 1776<ref name=dates>[https://openlibrary.org/books/OL24185970M/The_pedigree_of_Birkbeck_of_Mallerstang_and_Settle_Braithwaite_of_Kendal_Benson_of_Stang_End Foster 1890, Birkbeck Pedigree p.87]</ref> to a [[Quaker]] family (his father was a merchant and banker) in [[Settle, North Yorkshire|Settle]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], Birkbeck went to [[Sedbergh School]] and then completed his training as a doctor at the [[University of Edinburgh Medical School]] in 1799 with an MD degree. He is of the same Birkbeck family as early 19th-century Illinois pioneer, social reformer, author, publicist and agricultural innovator [[Morris Birkbeck]].<ref>S.B. Foster, The pedigree of Birkbeck of Mallerstang and Settle, Braithwaite of Kendal, Benson of Stang End, (London: Collingridge, 1890), pp. 81–85.</ref> Before practising as a physician, however, he initially embarked on an academic career, being appointed professor of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institute in [[Glasgow]],{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} which later became the [[University of Strathclyde]].


After mechanics started asking questions about the apparatus he used in his lectures, he had the idea of holding free, public lectures on the 'mechanical arts' (c 1800-1804). These Saturday evening events proved very popular and continued after his departure to [[London]], leading to the formation in 1821 of the first [[Mechanics' Institutes|Mechanics' Institute]] in Glasgow.<ref>[http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-birb.htm George Birkbeck and the London Mechanics Institute] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817042028/http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-birb.htm |date=17 August 2010 }} - Infed.org</ref>
After mechanics started asking questions about the apparatus he used in his lectures, he had the idea of holding free, public lectures on the 'mechanical arts' (c 1800-1804). These Saturday evening events proved very popular and continued after his departure to [[London]], leading to the formation in 1821 of the first [[Mechanics' Institutes|Mechanics' Institute]] in Glasgow.<ref>[http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-birb.htm George Birkbeck and the London Mechanics Institute] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817042028/http://www.infed.org/walking/wa-birb.htm |date=17 August 2010 }} - Infed.org</ref>


Working as a doctor in London in 1823, Birkbeck, along with [[Jeremy Bentham]] and MPs [[John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton|John Hobhouse]] and [[Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux|Henry Brougham]] came together to discuss the education for the working men of London. To achieve this they established the [[Birkbeck, University of London|London Mechanics Institute]] in November 1823 - of which Birkbeck was the first president. The Mechanics Institute concept was quickly adopted in numerous other cities and towns across the UK and overseas, but his association with the ground-breaking London institution was marked by it being renamed the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution in 1866{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} (now, as [[Birkbeck, University of London|Birkbeck College]], part of the [[University of London]]).
Working as a doctor in London in 1823, Birkbeck, along with [[Jeremy Bentham]] and MPs [[John Hobhouse, 1st Baron Broughton|John Hobhouse]] and [[Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux|Henry Brougham]] came together to discuss the education for the working men of London. To achieve this they established the [[Birkbeck, University of London|London Mechanics Institute]] in November 1823 - of which Birkbeck was the first president. The Mechanics Institute concept was quickly adopted in numerous other cities and towns across the UK and overseas, but his association with the ground-breaking London institution was marked by it being renamed the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution in 1866{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} (now, as [[Birkbeck, University of London|Birkbeck College]], part of the [[University of London]]).

He died in 1841 at his home in [[Finsbury Square]] and was buried in [[Kensal Green Cemetery]], London. A monument is also to be found in [[Church of St Alkelda, Giggleswick|St Akelda's Church]] in [[Giggleswick]], near his birthplace in Settle.
He died on 1 December 1841<ref name=dates/> at his home in [[Finsbury Square]] and was buried in [[Kensal Green Cemetery]], London. A monument is also to be found in [[Church of St Alkelda, Giggleswick|St Akelda's Church]] in [[Giggleswick]], near his birthplace in Settle.


==References and sources==
==References and sources==

Revision as of 02:39, 31 December 2021

George Birkbeck by Samuel Lane. Oil, 1830.
The George Birkbeck family mausoleum at Kensal Green Cemetery, London

George Birkbeck FRS (/ˈbɜːrkˌbɛk/; 10 January 1776 – 1 December 1841) was a British physician, academic, philanthropist, pioneer in adult education and a professor of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institute. He is the founder of Birkbeck, University of London and was head of the Chemical Society. He is one of the creators of the earliest chemistry laboratory for undergraduates at University College London, and is also known for the creation of mechanics' institutes in Scotland and London.

Biography

Born on 10 January 1776[1] to a Quaker family (his father was a merchant and banker) in Settle, West Riding of Yorkshire, Birkbeck went to Sedbergh School and then completed his training as a doctor at the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1799 with an MD degree. He is of the same Birkbeck family as early 19th-century Illinois pioneer, social reformer, author, publicist and agricultural innovator Morris Birkbeck.[2] Before practising as a physician, however, he initially embarked on an academic career, being appointed professor of natural philosophy at the Andersonian Institute in Glasgow,[3] which later became the University of Strathclyde.

After mechanics started asking questions about the apparatus he used in his lectures, he had the idea of holding free, public lectures on the 'mechanical arts' (c 1800-1804). These Saturday evening events proved very popular and continued after his departure to London, leading to the formation in 1821 of the first Mechanics' Institute in Glasgow.[4]

Working as a doctor in London in 1823, Birkbeck, along with Jeremy Bentham and MPs John Hobhouse and Henry Brougham came together to discuss the education for the working men of London. To achieve this they established the London Mechanics Institute in November 1823 - of which Birkbeck was the first president. The Mechanics Institute concept was quickly adopted in numerous other cities and towns across the UK and overseas, but his association with the ground-breaking London institution was marked by it being renamed the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution in 1866[3] (now, as Birkbeck College, part of the University of London).

He died on 1 December 1841[1] at his home in Finsbury Square and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, London. A monument is also to be found in St Akelda's Church in Giggleswick, near his birthplace in Settle.

References and sources

References
  1. ^ a b Foster 1890, Birkbeck Pedigree p.87
  2. ^ S.B. Foster, The pedigree of Birkbeck of Mallerstang and Settle, Braithwaite of Kendal, Benson of Stang End, (London: Collingridge, 1890), pp. 81–85.
  3. ^ a b Chisholm 1911.
  4. ^ George Birkbeck and the London Mechanics Institute Archived 17 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine - Infed.org
Sources
  • Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Birkbeck, George" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  • Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Birkbeck, George" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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