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William Cullen
A Scottish physician, chemist, and agriculturalist who was a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.
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Hello there. My name is William Cullen. I was born a very long time ago, on April 15th, 1710, in a beautiful country called Scotland. When I was a boy, I loved to learn about the world around me. I especially loved helping people feel better, so when I grew up, I became a doctor and a teacher.
I was always very curious. One day, I was thinking about how to make things cold. Have you ever noticed how your skin feels chilly when water dries on it? I thought that was so interesting. In 1756, I did a special experiment. I used a pump and a liquid that disappeared into the air very fast. As it disappeared, it made everything around it super cold—so cold that it made a little bit of ice. It was the world's very first cooling machine.
My little cooling machine was just the beginning. Other clever people used my idea to build the refrigerators we have in our kitchens today. Because of my cool idea, your milk stays fresh, your fruits are crisp, and your ice cream stays frozen. I lived to be 79 years old. It makes me smile to know that my curiosity still helps keep your favorite snacks yummy and safe to eat.
William Cullen: A Very Cool Idea
Hello there. My name is William Cullen. I was born a very long time ago, on April 15th, 1710, in a beautiful country called Scotland. When I was a boy, I loved to learn about the world around me. I especially loved helping people feel better, so when I grew up, I became a doctor and a teacher.
I was always very curious. One day, I was thinking about how to make things cold. Have you ever noticed how your skin feels chilly when water dries on it? I thought that was so interesting. In 1756, I did a special experiment. I used a pump and a liquid that disappeared into the air very fast. As it disappeared, it made everything around it super cold—so cold that it made a little bit of ice. It was the world's very first cooling machine.
My little cooling machine was just the beginning. Other clever people used my idea to build the refrigerators we have in our kitchens today. Because of my cool idea, your milk stays fresh, your fruits are crisp, and your ice cream stays frozen. I lived to be 79 years old. It makes me smile to know that my curiosity still helps keep your favorite snacks yummy and safe to eat.
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A Scottish physician, chemist, and agriculturalist who was a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He is best known for his pioneering work in artificial refrigeration and for giving the first-ever public demonstration of artificial refrigeration in 1748.
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