Six's self-registering thermometer, 18th century.
Image number: 10284093
James Six (1731-1793) retired early from business to devote himself to the natural sciences. He is best known for the invention of the self-registering thermometer, first designed in 1780, which recorded the maximum and minimum temperatures reached. It was the most widely used thermometer for taking deep-sea temperatures until 1870. The thermometer's susceptibility to pressure was addressed in 1869 by Dr W A Miller (1817-1870), then Vice-President of the Royal Society. Miller's adaptation of Six's design was made by the instrument maker L P Casella (1812-1897).
- Image number:
- 10284093
- Credit:
- Science Museum/Science & Society Picture Library
- Date taken:
- 20 October 2003 12:28
- Image rights:
- Science Museum
