IT seems strange now to think that oxygen required discovery, so perhaps ‘identifying’ or ‘isolating’ would sit better. Whichever, I suspect that those who have experienced intense pain relieved by gas and air or the panic of gasping for breath calmed by an oxygen mask are immensely grateful to Dr Joseph Priestley (1733–1804).
For seven years, Priestley was employed by William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne (1737–1805), as his librarian, which gave a way for the Earl to support Priestley’s scientific work. Lord Shelburne, who became the Marquess of Lansdowne after serving as Prime Minister
