1. Philosophy 22N Spring, 2004 G. J. Mattey
Robert Boyle
Philosophy 22N
Spring, 2004
G. J. Mattey

2. Vital Statistics Born, 1627, Ireland Died, 1691, London Single
Son of the first Earl of Cork
Founding member of the Royal Society

3. Important Events Early years-1639, educated at Eton
, grand tour of Europe, had religious conversion experience
1644, settled at Stalbridge in Dorset
1649, set up home laboratory and commenced experiments
1655, moved to Oxford and joined a circle of natural philosophers
1657, began experiments with air pump

4. Important events (cont.)
1660, helped found the Royal Society, published first results on experiments with air pump with which he was assisted by Hooke
1662, established “Boyle’s Law,” relating the volume of a gas to its pressure (under constant temperature)
1668, moved to London
, published many books
1692, first Boyle Lectures by Richard Bentley