Sir William Crookes: A Short Biography Nineteenth-Century British Chemist and Spiritualist

During his long career, the English chemist and entrepreneur, Sir William Crookes, was able to make significant contributions to photography, chemistry, physics, agricultural science, public health, and scientific journalism. Historians of science have recognized Crookes for his brilliance as an experimental researcher and his controversial investigations into spiritualistic phenomena; however, he made his living primarily as a science journalist and editor. His interests were eclectic, ranging from pure and applied science, economic and practical problems, and psychic research. He is credited with the discovery of the element thallium, investigations of cathode rays, and invention of the radiometer. He held patents on early light bulbs and his improvements in vacuum pump technology were key to the development of electric lighting and the discovery of the X-ray. His wide range of interests and prolific publication of his and others’ works made him a well-known personality within the late Victorian era scientific community. By the turn of the twentieth-century he was regarded as Britain’s leading scientist.

“Sir William Crookes: A Short Biography” reveals the life and times of one of the great scientific minds of the nineteenth-century.

30-Minute Book Series
This is the 35th book in the 30-Minute Book Series. Books in this series are fast-paced, accurate, and cover the story in as much detail as a short book possibly can. Most people complete each book in less than an hour, which makes the books in the series a perfect companion for your lunch hour or a little down time.

About the Author
Doug West is a retired engineer and an experienced non-fiction writer with several books to his credit. His writing interests are general, with special expertise in history, science, biographies, and “How To” topics. Doug has a Ph.D. in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University.