Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814
Rumfordiana, 1775-[ongoing].
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences owns a considerable number of papers and memorabilia pertaining to its early benefactor, Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford) and his family: eight letters of the Count, one accepting membership and others dealing with his bequest to the Academy, including the original deed of his gift with his seal (15 February 1797). [This early material is stored at the Boston Athenaeum.] The remaining Rumfordiana is at the House of the Academy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Included are: "Rumford Papers" bound in seven blue leather volumes. These are primarily papers of the Countess Rumford, although this collection should also contain Thirteen letters from the Count to Colonel Loammi Baldwin between 1775 and 1800; "Pictet Collection," bound in black leather volume. This consists of copies of 46 letters written by the Count to Marc Auguste Pictet during the period from 1796 to 1813. [The originals are in a private collection and unavailable to researchers.] This copy was made in 1871 and presented to the Academy in 1895 by Jules Marcon. The volume also contains one letter from Rumford's wife (Mme. Lavoisier), and one from his daughter; bound volume, containing six "Mm̌oires sur la Chaleur," present ̌ ̉l'Institut National par le conte de Rumford, n. d.; notebook, handwritten copy by A. Kruse of "Vollstandiger Bericht und Abrechnung von dem General-Leutenant Reichsgrafen von Rumford" [The original is deposited at the British Museum.]; and Joseph B. Walker's "A Paper on the Toryism of Count Rumford," Concord, New Hampshire, paperbound (1898). In addition, the Academy holds some material dealing with the Rumford Prize and the Prize Committee. The Rumford Prize was first awarded in 1839. Files relating to the awarding of the prize since 1945 and the change in the terms of the award can be found at the Cambridge House of the Academy.
American-born physicist (Best-known for his cannon experiments showing heat to be a mode of motion, thereby disproving prevalent notion of heat as fluid material substance (caloric); endowed Rumford professorship, Harvard, also Rumford medal of Royal Society and American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1796). Self-educated in Woburn, Massachusetts, Rumford became a schoolmaster. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, he remained loyal to the British Crown and served the British during the conflict, after which he fled to England. He lived permanently in exile in Europe for the remainder of his life.
Baldwin, Loammi, 1780-1838.
Lavoisier, Marie-Anne-Pierrette, 1758-1836.
Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814
Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814
Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814
Rumford, Benjamin, Graf von, 1753-1814
Heat -- Research.
Scientists -- Correspondence -- 19th century.
Physics -- 19th century.
Refugees, Political -- 19th century.
Rewards (Prizes, etc.) -- United States.
United States -- Exiles -- 19th century.
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Refugees.
Physicists -- 18th century. lcsh
Scientists -- 19th century. lcsh
Pictet, Marc Auguste, Count.
Rumford, Countess.
Walker, Joseph B.
Rumford Prize.
Kruse, A.
Marcon, Jules.
American Academy of Arts and Sciences.).
American Academy of Arts and Sciences.).
Boston Athenaeum
Institut National de France.
AIP-ICOS
American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Norton's Woods, 136 Irving Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-1996, USA