Joseph Priestley College is named after the man who discovered the existence of oxygen. Joseph Priestley was a great character who was described as a 'scientific pacifist' and accused of courting controversy for expressing his radical views. He is most famous for his work in science, particularly chemistry.

Joseph Priestley was born at Fieldhead in Leeds (West Yorkshire) on 13 March 1733, the eldest of six children of Jonas Priestley, a cloth-dresser.

After leaving Batley Grammar School, Joseph decided to enter the dissenting ministry. By this stage he had learnt French, German, Italian and Hebrew. Joseph moved about a lot, living all over England including Leeds, Wiltshire, Birmingham, Suffolk and London. He also travelled frequently to Europe. Although he was a minister throughout his life Joseph also tutored at Hackney College and in languages and belles-lettres at the academy in Warrington.

It was at Warrington that he was introduced to chemistry. Another job of Joseph's was the Librarian to the Earl of Shelburne (later first Marquis of Lansdowne) and during this time he became one of the London Ministers and took some part in their deliberations. During his various times spent in London he got to know Benjamin Franklin, John Canton, Richard Price and others. He was made Doctor of Law (LL D) by the University of Edinburgh in 1764, elected to the Royal Society in 1766 and became a member of the Lunar Society in 1780. He was also one of the founders of the Leeds Subscription Library (1770).

He wrote many essays and books on religion, electricity, vision and light and conducted numerous groundbreaking scientific experiments. In 1794, a year after his sons emigrated to America, Joseph followed them. They settled in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
 

Additional Links

• http://www.priestleysociety.net/
• http://www.hibbert-assembly.org.uk/Priestley/
• http://www.uccn.org.uk/posters/priestley.htm