THE THUNDER & LIGHTNING MAN

DENE BEBBINGTON recounts the work of Fyne Court's notorious scientist

It has been rumoured that Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein was inspired by Somerset electrical experimenter Andrew Crosse. Although this is unlikely, Crosse did experiments which resulted in the apparent creation of mites.

As a boy he was not averse to mischief. At school he liked to make fireworks and in a letter admitted the danger of it after nearly setting the school house on fire. His rebellious nature went too far when he joined other boys demanding longer school holidays.

A plan was hatched to barricade a schoolroom and defend themselves to the death with muskets. Their plot was thwarted and somehow Crosse avoided punishment, unlike others who were expelled or flogged.

Despite getting into trouble he was academically successful and became Head Boy at Dr. Seyer's School in Bristol. His interest in electricity came about accidentally when he sloped off to a tavern to eat boiled beef since the school meals were insufficient. One day he spotted a syllabus for a natural science course, which included electricity. He subscribed to the course after gaining permission from Dr. Seyer.