James Keir (1735 – 1820), chemist, geologist, industrialist and inventor, was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland. He was a member of the Lunar Society. Events April 16 - The London premiere of Alcina by George Frideric Handel, his first the first Italian opera for the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Chemist Julie Perkins of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory pours from a Florence flask. ... A geologist is a contributor to the science of geology, studying the physical structure and processes of the Earth. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Business magnate. ... Stirlingshire (Siorrachd Sruighlea in Gaelic) is a traditional county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the traditional county town. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... The Lunar Society was a discussion club of prominent industrialists and scientists, who met regularly between 1765 and 1813 in Birmingham, England. ...

He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh where he met Erasmus Darwin. The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Portrait of Erasmus Darwin by Joseph Wright of Derby (1792) Stone-cast bust of Erasmus Darwin, by William John Coffee, c 1795, (Crown Derby Modeller and world renown artist) Erasmus Darwin (December 12, 1731 – April 18, 1802) trained as a physician and wrote extensively on medicine and botany, as well...

He joined the army and served as a Captain in the West Indies, resigning his commission in 1768. The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

He settled at Hill Top, West Bromwich where he made amateur chemical experiments and studied rocks. Map sources for West Bromwich at grid reference SO9992 West Bromwich is a town in the English county of West Midlands, five miles north west of Birmingham. ...

In 1775 he set up a factory at Stourbridge to manufacture glass, but in 1778 became manager at Boulton and Watt's Soho Engineering Works. 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Map sources for Stourbridge at grid reference SO8883 Stourbridge is a town in the West Midlands, England. ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Matthew Boulton. ... James Watt James Watt (19 January 1736 – 19 August 1819) was a Scottish inventor and engineer whose improvements to the steam engine were fundamental to the changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution. ...

In 1779 he patented a metal alloy made of copper, zinc and iron which could be forged hot or cold. Window frames made from this metal may still be found at Boulton's home, Soho House (now a museum). 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic brown Atomic mass 63. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Atomic mass 65. ... General Name, Symbol, Number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Atomic mass 55. ... Soho House, Matthew Boultons home in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, is now a museum (opened in 1995), managed by Birmingham City Council, celebrating his life, his partnership with James Watt and his membership of the Lunar Society. ...

In 1780, he and Alexander Blair (an old friend from his army days), set up a chemical works at Tipton to make alkali and soap. 1780 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Map sources for Tipton at grid reference SO9592 Tipton is a town in the Sandwell borough of the West Midlands, England, with a population of around 47,000. ...

He and Blair set up a colliery, at Tividale, Dudley in 1794. Tividale first existed during the late 18th century as an extension of Tipton in the county of Staffordshire. ... Map sources for Dudley at grid reference SO9390 Dudley is a town in the West Midlands, England. ... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

He and Joseph Priestley worked closely to investigate the properties of gases. Joseph Priestley is often credited for the discovery of oxygen. ... A gas is one of the four main phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma), that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ...

Keir supported the French Revolution, which drew considerable criticism.

Keir died at West Bromwich in 1820. Almost all of his papers were lost in a house fire in 1845. 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

He is remembered by the Moonstones, in Birmingham. The Moonstones are a set of eight carved memorials to various members of the Lunar Society. ... The city from above Centenary Square. ...