Robert Boyle

Brilliant chemist who beat the superstitions of alchemy

Robert Boyle was born on January 25, 1627, at Lismore Castle in Ireland. He was the fourteenth child of Sir Richard Boyle, the wealthy Earl of Cork, and Lady Boyle. His parents ensured that he received the best education available in seventeenth century England. He attended Eton — the college founded by King Henry VI almost 200 years earlier — and also had private tutors. Sir Richard encouraged his son to continue his education in Europe. So they sent Robert off to school in Geneva.
Robert did well in Europe. He had access to writings not available to students in England, and his knowledge increased markedly. He loved learning languages, and soon mastered six. But his interests also leaned towards science.
The 16 year-old saw the world around him as a wonderful creation of God. His brilliant mind constantly strove to learn more about the Creator and the principles of His world. In Italy, Boyle had the privilege of meeting the astronomer Galileo — whose work led to a better understanding of the universe — shortly before Galileo died. Galileo was under house arrest at the time for having taught Copernican doctrine. Boyle cherished this meeting, and it sparked in him an even stronger desire to discover more about God's world.

Fighting alchemy

As his interest in science increased, Boyle faced heavy disappointments. He had enormous difficulty overcoming people's trust in alchemists. Alchemists were the medieval forerunners of today's chemists. But they spent most of their time trying to turn base metals such as lead into gold, or in trying to produce an “elixir of life” that would keep them endlessly youthful. Most alchemists wanted only to perform scientific “magic” to increase their wealth and prestige. They gave little time to anyone who tried to devalue the great importance of their selfish objectives.
Boyle realized that if science was going to progress, he would have to start raising its status himself. While only 18, he helped to found the Philosophical College in London (later to become the Royal Society of London). He specialized in chemistry, and believed in the need for objective observation in research.
He returned home to Ireland at the age of 25 and took up studying anatomy. Two years later he moved to Oxford, set up a laboratory, and headed a small scientific society there.