Visiting the George Wythe house specifically for a spy game my kids were playing led us to some scientific adventures that were on display.
In one of the outbuildings, we viewed rocks and fossils with 18th century magnifying glasses.
At another table several scientific experiments explored density of water from different sources (fresh, brackish, sea) to see how well eggs float in each.
An oxygen experiment involved placing a bell jar over a lit candle.
Another table provided the opportunity to paint 18th century nature prints by Mark Catesby with 18th century water colors.
Mark Catesby was a British naturalist who came to Williamsburg in the early 18th century to study and watercolor flora.
SCIENTIFIC ENLIGHTENMENT
Humbly imitating the Royal Society of London, eight prominent Virginians organized the Society for the Promotion of Usefull Knowledge on November 2, 1772.
The most familiar names of the group were John Page of Rosewell, his brother Man Page Jr. of Mannsfield, and Nathaniel Burwell of Carter’s Grove, a relative of Robert King Carter.
Notably, Nathaniel Burwell was the College of William and Mary’s first winner of the Botetourt Medal in Natural Philosophy.
Patroned by Lord Dunmore, members included St. George Tucker and George Wythe, while corresponding members included Dr. Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia.
INDOOR SCIENTIFIC EXPLORATIONS
Entering the house, we found a room with a gorgeous 18th century microscope which we used to view 18th century slides! (as seen in header photo)
Classically educated, George Wythe and other gentlemen of his day continued learning through their lives, as students of the Enlightenment.
Understanding enlightenment philosophies of Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire, they also knew about enlightenment scientific discoveries of men like Isaac Newton.
Benjamin Franklin, who studied for two years at Boston Latin School, dabbled in scientific interactions, earning an honorary doctor degree.
SCIENTIFIC HOLE IN THE SHUTTER
Last year, when I met George Wythe at the Tucker House, he mentioned a very special microscope that he had in the house that so intrigued me, that I asked the interpreter about it.
Motioning me to one of the windows, she pulled a shutter from the casing that had a hole in it.
It was through that hole that light was obtained to project images, like a flea…with perfect detail of the hairy legs.
…the Solar microscope, provided an opportunity to provide entertainment as a ‘Solar Microscope Exhibition’ for which an admission fee was charged. Imagine the amazement back then as a flea was magnified to a six foot wide image on a screen. They are ‘Solar’ because the bright light of the sun was used as the light source. –History of the Solar Microscope
However, the interpreter couldn’t display the projector for us because Mrs. Wythe didn’t want all that commotion!
This projector only worked during sunrise in this room, so Mr. Wythe used the projector on the other side of the house during sunset, where one of the shutters over there has a hole in it too!
SOLAR MICROSCOPE
Check out an 18th century solar microscope, invented in 1740, at the Smithsonian here.
Wow! I think this would make a great tour at Colonial Williamsburg! Perhaps there’s been one, but I missed it?
