Between the Ambition and Reality:Michael Faraday and the Royal Institution of Great Britain

Abstract

Michael Faraday􀆳s ambitions for his scientific career were closely related to the spe ̄ cial experiences of his early years and the realization of these ambitions was intimately connected to the Royal Institution􀆰 The environment of the Royal Institution gave him both economic and academic freedom which are vital scientific innovation and the realization of his ambitions had a great influ ̄ ence on the developments of the Royal Institution and society at large􀆰 Through their achievements they forged a community of shared destiny one that embodied the interaction of individual institu ̄ tional and social factors.