Boyle, Robert (1627-01-25 - 1691-12-31)

Robert Boyle was born on 25 January 1627 at Lismore Castle, Ireland. He was educated at Eton College. In 1655 or 1656, Boyle moved to Oxford; here, he met Robert Hooke, who entered his employ. Together, they devised the vacuum chamber or air-pump. During his Oxford period, he was also associated with several distinguished theologians, including Thomas Barlow and Robert Sanderson. He began to publish in 1659; his prolific output included Christian devotional and ethical essays and theological tracts, in addition to papers on hydrostatics, physics, medicine, and alchemy. In 1660, Boyle helped to found the Royal Society in London. He moved permanently to London eight years later. Boyle died in London on 31 December 1691.