Michael Faraday (1791–1867), English physicist and chemist, was the discoverer of electromagnetic induction and the founding father of the electrical age. Born into poverty, he worked as a newsboy and bookbinder's apprentice before entering science through self-study. Chemist Sir Humphry Davy recognized his talent and brought him to the Royal Institution.
Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, built the world's first electric motor and electric generator, formulated the laws of electrolysis, and introduced the revolutionary concept of 'lines of force'—the idea of the electromagnetic field. His field concept created a new paradigm in physics, later mathematically formalized by Maxwell into electromagnetic field theory.
Faraday is one of the greatest experimental physicists in history. His self-taught journey proves that passion and perseverance can overcome any background. His field theory fundamentally transformed physics, replacing the notion of 'action at a distance' with the modern understanding of fields that underpins all of contemporary physics.
