Joseph Priestley

Joseph Priestley (; 24 March 1733 – 6 February 1804) was an English chemist, natural philosopher, separatist theologian, grammarian, multi-subject educator, and liberal political theorist. He published over 150 works, and conducted experiments in several areas of science.

Priestley is credited with his independent discovery of oxygen by the thermal decomposition of mercuric oxide, having isolated it in 1774. During his lifetime, Priestley's considerable scientific reputation rested on his invention of carbonated water, his writings on electricity, and his discovery of several "airs" (gases), the most famous being what Priestley dubbed "dephlogisticated air" (oxygen). Priestley's determination to defend phlogiston theory and to reject what would become the chemical revolution eventually left him isolated within the scientific community.

Priestley's science was integral to his theology, and he consistently tried to fuse Enlightenment rationalism with Christian theism. In his metaphysical texts, Priestley attempted to combine theism, materialism, and determinism, a project that has been called "audacious and original". He believed that a proper understanding of the natural world would promote human progress and eventually bring about the Christian millennium. Priestley, who strongly believed in the free and open exchange of ideas, advocated toleration and equal rights for religious Dissenters, which also led him to help found Unitarianism in England. The controversial nature of Priestley's publications, combined with his outspoken support of the American Revolution and later the French Revolution, aroused public and governmental contempt; eventually forcing him to flee in 1791, first to London and then to the United States, after a mob burned down his Birmingham home and church. He spent his last ten years in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

A scholar and teacher throughout his life, Priestley made significant contributions to pedagogy, including the publication of a seminal work on English grammar and books on history; he prepared some of the most influential early timelines. The educational writings were among Priestley's most popular works. Arguably his metaphysical works, however, had the most lasting influence, as now considered primary sources for utilitarianism by philosophers such as Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Herbert Spencer. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 20 results of 21 for search 'Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804', query time: 0.06s Refine Results
  1. 1
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1782
    Birmingham, J. Johnson, 1782.
    2 v. 22 cm.
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  2. 2
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1806
    London, J. Johnson, 1806-7.
    2 v. 23 cm.
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  3. 3
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1788
    Dublin, P. Byrne, 1788.
    xxxvii, 371, 11 p. 2 fold. tab. 21 cm.
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  4. 4
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1787
    Birmingham, Printed by Pearson and Rollason for J. Johnson, London, 1787.
    2 v. in 1. 21 cm.
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  5. 5
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1812
    London, Johnson, D. Eaton, 1812.
    35 p. 17 cm.
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  6. 6
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1777
    London : Printed for J. Johnson, no. 72, St. Paul's Church-yard, 1777.
    [4], vi, [2], 313, [4] p. ; 28 cm.
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  7. 7
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1838
    Keene, N.H. : Prentiss, 1838.
    312 pages ; 20 cm.
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  8. 8
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1790
    Birmingham, T. Pearson, 1790.
    3 v. fronts., fold. pl. 21 cm.
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  9. 9
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1794
    London, J. Johnson, 1794.
    xvi, 420 p.
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  10. 10
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1796
    Philadelphia, by John Thompson, 1796.
    xx, [2], 426 p. 21 cm.
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  11. 11
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1794
    [New York] : Birmingham printed, New-York re-printed by J. Harrisson for B. Gomez, bookseller and stationer ..., 1794.
    131, [1] p. ; 17 cm. (12mo)
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  12. 12
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1793
    London, Printed for J. Johnson, 1793.
    4 p.l., 183 p. 22 cm.
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  13. 13
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1774
    London, J. Johnson, 1774.
    16 p. 19 cm.
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  14. 14
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1778
    London, J. Johnson and T. Cadell, 1778.
    4 p. ̋., xiiv p., 2 ̋., 428 p. 22 cm.
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  15. 15
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1803
    Philadelphia, Printed for P. Byrne, 1803.
    60 p.
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  16. 16
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1769
    London, Johnson and Payne, 1769.
    viii, 9-32 p. 23 cm.
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  17. 17
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1772
    London, J. Johnson, 1772.
    v, [6] p., 1 ̋., xvi, 812, [12] p. fold. front., XXIIII fold. pl. 27 x 21 cm.
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  18. 18
    by Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804
    Published 1775
    London, C. Bathurst and T. Lowndes, 1775.
    2 v. 2 p. ̋., xxxii, 712, iii, [7] p. VIII pl. 27 cm.
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  19. 19
    Published 1773
    America ; Philadelphia : Printed for the subscribers, by Robert Bell, 1773.
    119, xii, 155 pages.
    Also issued in microfiche.
    Other Authors: “...Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804...”
    LLMC Digital
    Online Resource
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  20. 20
    Published 1772
    [Philadelphia], America : Printed for the subscribers, by Robert Bell, 1772-1773.
    1 online resource (119, xii, 155 pages)
    Other Authors: “...Priestley, Joseph, 1733-1804...”
    LLMC Digital
    Online Resource
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