Person Canton; John (1718 - 1772); natural philosopher Canton John natural philosopher 1718 - 1772 British Male Stroud, Gloucestershire, England 31 July 1718 London 22 March 1772

Physics Career; 1738 articled to Samuel Watkins, master of a school in Spital Square London. In 1745 he succeeded Watkins and kept the school himself until his death in 1772. Contributed experiments to Joseph Priestley's 'Histories of Electrical Discoveries', and described by Dr Thomson as 'one of the most successful experimenters in the golden age of electricity'. Verified Benjamin Franklin's hypothesis as to the identity of lightning and electricity, and was the first Englishman to repeat the experiments successfully. Medals and prizes: Copley Medal 1751 and 1764 Fellow 22/03/1750 Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; DSB References: M Yakup Bektas and Maurice Crosland, 'The Copley Medal: the Establishment of a Reward System in the Royal Society, 1731-1839' in NR 1992 vol 46 pp 43-76 Douglas McKie, 'Priestley's Laboratory and Library and Other of his Effects' in NR 1956-57 vol 12 pp 114-136 International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 31 Jul 1718 - 22 Mar 1772 NA5672 21/11/2001 Andyg pmab 28/03/2023 RS_NET\JonathanB Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/39231370 af63793b-3ce5-4590-b3a4-e2da740e48bb