Michael Faraday 's early life had a remarkable resemblance to that of Benjamin Franklin. Faraday was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington, Surrey, England. Like Franklin, Michael Faraday was part of a large family. His father was a blacksmith who lacked the resources to obtain a formal education for Michael. Franklin had been apprenticed to a printer; young Faraday went a similar route, becoming apprenticed to a bookbinder. In each case, this led to a voracious love of books. Michael was especially interested in chemistry and electricity. He studied the articles about electricity in the Encyclopaedia Britannica. His employer not only allowed him to read all that he wanted, he encouraged the boy to attend scientific lectures.

A turning point in Faraday's life occurred in 1812 when he obtained tickets to hear the lectures of Humphry Davy at the Royal Institution. Faraday took careful notes extending to 386 pages, which he...