Robert Boyle (1627–1691) was born at Lismore Castle, Munster, Ireland, the 14th child of the Earl of Cork

As a young man of means, he was tutored at home.

At the time of the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660, Boyle played a key role in founding the Royal Society to nurture this new view of science.

Robert was sent, together with one of his brothers, to study at Eton College in England in 1635. At this time the school was becoming fashionable as a place where important people sent their sons.

However, perhaps he had been given too much special attention by Harrison for, when Harrison retired, Boyle seemed unable to fit in with the educational discipline the new headmaster brought to the school. Realising that neither of his sons were progressing well at school under the new headmaster, the Earl of Cork took his sons away from the Eton in November 1638.

He published many experimental reports and did original work on chemical indicators, human blood, color, fire, medicine, and hydrostatics.

With Hooke he developed Guericke’s air pump, which he needed for his experiments. His first major publication was his book on the ‘spring’ of the air (1660), in the second edition of which (1662) we find the first statement of what came to be known as ‘Boyle’s Law’, about the relation between the pressure and volume of gases.S

He Death: 30-Dec-1691Born: 25-Jan-1627Sister: Katherine, Lady Ranelagh (d.

Dec-1691)

"Robert Boyle." NNDB Tracking the Entire World n. pag. Web. 24 Nov 2009. <http://www.nndb.com/people/878/000031785/>.

"Robert Boyle." Chemical Achievers n. pag. Web. 24 Nov 2009. <http://www.chemheritage.org/classroom/chemach/forerunners/boyle.html>.