Inventor Name
Rumford, Benjamin Graf von
Repository
Harvard University
Manuscript Department
Houghton Library
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-495-2449
http://www-hcl.harvard.edu/houghton/departments/msdept/manuscript.html
Physical Description
2 liner feet
Summary
Rumford, an applied physicist and inventor, as well as a soldier of fortune, and philanthropist, was born in Massachusetts, but after siding with the British in the American Revolution, lived mostly in England, Bavaria, and France. He studied heat, gunpowder, cooking equipment, lamps, wheels and other equipment and phenomena. Rumford was knighted in England, made a Count of the Holy Roman Empire by the Elector of Bavaria, founded the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and was active in various academic societies and institutes. Consists of 39 of Rumford's drawings in pen and watercolor of his inventions; 24 drawings for him by Georg von Reichenbach, a Bavarian army engineer; maps; and engravings including some of the English Garden in Munich designed by Rumford and of plans for a military post near Dublin. Rumford's drawings are of a hackney carriage with wooden springs, coffeepots, portable stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and mantelpieces. Reichenbach's drawings are of flint-lock muskets and other small firearms, field cannons, and military uniforms. Also contains drawings and engravings of miscellaneous scientific and architectural apparatus, by various hands, possibly not connected with Rumford.
Finding Aid
http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL.Hough:hou01180
