Memory Stream Dipping into Philadelphia's illustrated past
Joseph Priestley was well respected as a chemist and inventor, but he was disliked by many for his political and religious beliefs. Priestley, who lived in England, was an early adopter of Unitarianism and a supporter of the revolutions in America and France. He published works that attacked the British government and criticized Christianity.
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On July 14, 1791, an angry mob destroyed Priestley's home and laboratory in Birmingham, England. He was driven out of the city and in 1794 he decided to move to America, settling in Pennsylvania's Northumberland County along the Susquehanna River. Priestley's arrival was celebrated in the United States.
Known as the "father of modern chemistry," Priestley invented carbonated water and discovered two gases - oxygen and carbon monoxide. He was also a deeply religious man who often traveled to Philadelphia to deliver sermons.
Priestley encouraged the development of a Unitarian church, the first in Philadelphia and the country. The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia was established in 1796 and was originally located at 10th and Locust Streets. The church is now at 21st and Chestnut.
Content and images provided by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. For more stories, visit www.hsp.org.
