The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1183: Chapter 129: Pioneer of the Electrical Age

Returning to Gottingen was an extraordinarily special experience for me. It was here that I first truly encountered the mysteries of electromagnetism, setting off a lifelong pursuit. Everyone faces choices and challenges at some point in their life. I, too, went through a difficult period, but the education at Gottingen endowed me with knowledge, Mr. Ohm gave me the steadfast faith in learning, and Sir Arthur Hastings made me believe that the future is created by our own hands.

It was at the Gottingen observatory that I first saw a telegraph device—a rudimentary yet full of potential apparatus—which made me realize that information could traverse distances at unimaginable speeds through electric currents. At that time, telegraphs and electromagnetism were still in the nascent stages throughout Europe, and I was fortunate to receive my initial enlightenment on this land.

Today, the telegraph has transformed the entire world, electric lights have illuminated countless homes, and electricity seems to have become an ordinary part of our lives. Yet I always hold in my heart the excitement and awe I felt when I first saw weak electric currents sending signals through copper wires at this university.

Today, I want to say to every young scholar present that, although technology continues to advance, what remains unchanged is our unwavering dedication to learning and our commitment to research. This belief has helped us end the long dark age of human history spanning several centuries, and it will determine how we continue to shape the future.

— Founder of Siemens Company, one of the pioneers of the open-hearth steelmaking process, holder of major electromagnetism patents for electrical generators, vertical lift elevators, and electrified railway locomotives: Werner von Siemens, 1888 lecture at Alma Mater Gottingen University

In the history of electromagnetic research, the British scientific community has made two groundbreaking discoveries for all mankind. These discoveries do not refer to the phenomena of electromagnetic induction and Maxwell’s equations.

The first major breakthrough discovery by the British Scientific Community was Sir Humphry Davy promoting his assistant Michael Faraday; the second major discovery was Michael Faraday discovering the self-proclaimed ’amateur natural philosophy enthusiast’ Arthur Hastings.

Perhaps in the field of electromagnetic research, no one would place Arthur Hastings’ name ahead of James Maxwell’s, because many critics believe that Arthur Hastings, like his teacher Lord Henry Bruham, had a wide range of interests but lacked the perseverance and dedication to advance continuously in a single field.

However, we must also notice that many scientists in mathematics, electromagnetism, biology, thermodynamics, who rank ahead of Arthur Hastings, were discovered and recommended by this ’amateur natural philosophy enthusiast,’ and among them were several Copley Medal winners.

How should we evaluate Sir Arthur Hastings’ status in the scientific field?

I think it is appropriate to borrow the words used by Sir Eld Carter when evaluating Sir Arthur Hastings—a saying from the East: ’There is a Bole, and then there is a thousand-mile horse.’ Arthur Hastings was definitely not the greatest discoverer of electromagnetism in the 19th century, but he remained the greatest discoverer of electromagnetic scientists in the 19th century.

Nature and its laws concealed in darkness, God said: Let Newton be, and light illuminated the world.

Humanity has lived in pitch darkness for thousands of years, but Hastings said: Let there be light.

Thus, Ohm, Siemens, and Maxwell descended upon the mortal world.

The brightness of electric lights dispelled darkness, Parisian nights, London fog, and Berlin’s twilight were all driven away.

At this moment, the era of electrification arrived.

— ”A History of British Science” Charles Singer

At the Black Bear Tavern in Gottingen, Arthur looked at the tearful Siemens before him, unsure of what to say, and simply focused on ordering for the sturdy farm boy.

Perhaps because the pressure in his heart accumulated for too long, Siemens still managed to maintain his composure when he kept silent, but as soon as he mentioned the possibility of dropping out, he couldn’t control his emotions anymore.

Regarding Siemens’ emotional outburst, Arthur and Ohm exchanged a knowing smile.

Of course, they were not mocking Siemens; there was a hint of nostalgic sentiment in that smile.

Because they had gone through the same experience.

Ohm did not drop out because he had a responsible and enlightened father, while Arthur was because he encountered a devil with malicious whims.

Back when Ohm faced graduation, he lay awake in his small bed at home, unable to sleep, knowing he couldn’t bring himself to ask his father’s help. Given his father’s financial situation, it was already enough of a burden to send both him and his brother through middle school. Perhaps his father could struggle to support a university student, but it would mean that one of the brothers would have to give up on schooling.

At one point, Ohm thought about giving this precious opportunity to his brother, but before he could speak, his father had already silently processed his enrollment at Erlangen University. When he asked about what would happen to his brother Martin, old Ohm simply assured him not to worry, as he always treated his children equally.