From galaxies to turbines : science, technology, and the Parsons family

From Galaxies to Turbines: Science, Technology and the Parsons Family looks at the way science and industry relate to each other, and at the way social attitudes affect this relationship. An expert on the Parsons Family, the author beautifully illustrates this by tracing the story of the remarkable endeavors of the Parsons family during the 125 years that embraced their lives in Ireland and Great Britain during the developing Industrial Revolution. The father of the family, William Parsons, Earl of Rosse, discovered the Spiral Nebulae at his observatory in Ireland and displayed an unusual familiarity with engineering principles in the building of his two giant telescopes. His son, Charles, was at the forefront of the new age of technology among shipbuilders and engineers in the northeast coast of England. Lavishly illustrated throughout, with a handy family tree and map of the River Tyne pin-pointing key historic events, this is a highly accessible and fascinating account for the general reader interested in the way scientific knowledge and industrial application have slowly emerged in recent history. This Book Looks At The Way Science And Industry Relate To One Other, And At The Way Social Attitudes Affect This Relationship. Garrett Scaife Illustrates This Beautifully By Tracing The Story Of The Remarkable Endeavours Of The Parsons Family During The Century And A Quarter That Embraced Their Lives In Ireland And Great Britain At The Time Of The Developing Industrial Revolution. The Father Of The Family, William Parsons, Earl Of Rosse, Discovered The Spiral Nebula At His Observatory In Ireland And Displayed An Unusual Familiarity With Engineering Principles In The Building Of His Two Giant Telescopes. His Son, Charles, Was At The Forefront Of The New Age Of Technology Among Shipbuilders And Engineers Of The North East Coast Of England.--jacket. The Inventions Exhibition In London 1885 -- An Elizabethan Settler Family -- The Parsons Family Settle In Ireland -- The Eighteenth Century And The Act Of Union -- The Second Earl Of Rosse, A Reluctant Politician -- Interest In Astronomy -- William Parsons And Astronomy -- Telescope Building -- Marriage To A Wealthy Heiress And The Building Of A 3 Ft Reflector -- Engineering Of A Giant Telescope -- Scientific Engineer -- A 6 Ft Diameter Reflecting Telescope -- The Observatory Of Birr Castle -- Public Responsibilities In Ireland -- Scientific Achievement -- The Astronomer And The Search For Spiral Nebulae -- Bringing Up The Children -- A High Priest Of Science In Victorian Britain -- Weapons Of War -- The Family After The Death Of The 3rd Earl -- Teenagers Without Their Father -- Astronomy Continues At Birr -- The Parsons Brothers Enter Manufacturing Industry -- Industrial Development On The North East Coast -- Theory And Practice Of Shipbuilding -- Clere's Apprenticeship And Education For Industry -- Charles' Apprenticeship -- Labour Saving In India! -- A Gas Turbine? -- Settling Down To Married Life -- A Practical Steam Turbine -- The Design Of A Steam Turbine Is Conceived -- Critical Experiments -- A Note On Governors -- Clarke Chapman And Parsons, Partners -- Marketing The Turbo Generator -- Turbo-generator Improvements -- Other New Products -- A New Start--c A Parsons -- Break-up Of Partnership -- A Competitor -- Establishing Heaton Works And Radial Flow Turbines -- Condensing Turbines -- Dynamos And Alternators. W. Garrett Scaife. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 540-554) And Index. "This book looks at the way science and industry relate to one other, and at the way social attitudes affect this relationship. Garrett Scaife illustrates this beautifully by tracing the story of the remarkable endeavours of the Parsons family during the century and a quarter that embraced their lives in Ireland and Great Britain at the time of the developing industrial Revolution. The father of the family, William Parsons, Earl of Rosse, discovered the Spiral Nebula at his observatory in Ireland and displayed an unusual familiarity with engineering principles in the building of his two giant telescopes. His son, Charles, was at the forefront of the new age of technology among shipbuilders and engineers of the North East coast of England."--Résumé de l'éditeur "This book looks at the way science and industry relate to one other, and at the way social attitudes affect this relationship. Garrett Scaife illustrates this beautifully by tracing the story of the remarkable endeavours of the Parsons family during the century and a quarter that embraced their lives in Ireland and Great Britain at the time of the developing industrial Revolution. The father of the family, William Parsons, Earl of Rosse, discovered the Spiral Nebula at his observatory in Ireland and displayed an unusual familiarity with engineering principles in the building of his two giant telescopes. His son, Charles, was at the forefront of the new age of technology among shipbuilders and engineers of the North East coast of England."--BOOK JACKET. Looks at the way science and industry relate to each other, and at the way social attitudes affect this relationship. This work traces the story of the endeavors of the Parsons family during the 125 years that embraced their lives in Ireland and Great Britain during the developing Industrial Revolution. After the great 1851 Exhibition had ended and that extraordinary building of iron and glass, the Crystal Palace, had been removed to another site away from Hyde Park in London, a permanent exhibition centre and educational complex was developed nearby.