{"id":118,"date":"2021-10-17T14:09:29","date_gmt":"2021-10-17T14:09:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/?p=118"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:24:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T14:24:54","slug":"benjamin-franklins-visit-cumberland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/17\/benjamin-franklins-visit-cumberland\/","title":{"rendered":"Benjamin Franklin’s experiment in Cumberland"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pouring oil on troubled waters<\/h2>\n

Pouring oil on troubled waters \u2013 as a metaphor \u2013 is familiar to all of us. It means trying to calm a dispute with soothing words. Benjamin Franklin’s experiment in Cumberland in the 1770s put it to the test<\/p>\n

The origin of the saying is simply an old belief that if a ship was caught in a storm, pouring oil over the side would literally reduce the waves. Something Franklin was keen to prove.<\/p>\n

Cumbrian (and other) characters<\/h2>\n

In the following extracts, Benjamin Franklin \u2013 one of the Founding Fathers of the United States \u2013 needs no introduction.<\/p>\n

\"Benjamin
Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the US and keen scientist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

William Brownrigg<\/a> is less familiar, although as the first scientist to investigate poisonous gases in coal mines, he surely deserves more recognition than he has.<\/p>\n

Brownrigg (1712-1800), was born at High Close Hall, Cumberland, and baptised at Crosthwaite parish church. The Brownriggs had acquired property at Ormathwaite through the marriage of his great-grandfather George, in 1676, to Anne, the daughter of Garwain Williamson (the Williamsons had been in the region since at least 1470).<\/p>\n

William\u2019s scientific research saw him elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1742.<\/p>\n

Dr Brownrigg\u2019s old friend, the \u2018worthy clergyman at Carlisle\u2019, was the Reverend James Farish<\/strong> (1714-1783), the vicar of Stanwix.<\/p>\n

Dr Brownrigg\u2019s old friend, the \u2018worthy clergyman at Carlisle\u2019, was the Reverend James Farish (1714-1783), the vicar of Stanwix.<\/p>\n

Sir John Pringle<\/a>, \u2018the father of military medicine\u201d, realised the importance of hygiene and sanitation in relation to disease, and pioneered the concept of hospitals in the field as neutral territory.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mr Dun\u2019 was possibly Samuel Dunn, the Londoner (source<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Benjamin Franklin’s experiment on Derwentwater<\/h2>\n

Some detail on Benjamin Franklin’s experiment can be read in the\u00a0Philosophical Transactions<\/a>. XLIV. Of the stilling of waves by means of oil. Extracted from sundry letters between Benjamin Franklin, LL. D. F. R. S. William Brownrigg, M. D. F. R. S. and the Reverend Mr. Farish.<\/p>\n

Extract of a letter from Dr Brownrigg to Dr Franklin, dated Ormathwaite, Jan 27, 1773.<\/b><\/p>\n

By the enclosed from an old friend, a worthy clergyman at Carlisle, whose great learning and extensive knowledge in most sciences would have more distinguished him, had he been placed in a more conspicuous point of view, you will find that he had heard of your experiment on Derwent Lake, and has thrown together what he could collect on that subject; to which I have subjoined one experiment from the relation of another Gentleman.<\/p>\n

Extract of a letter from the Reverend Mr Farish to Dr Brownrigg<\/b><\/p>\n

I some time ago met with Mr Dun, who furnished me with an account of an experiment you had tried upon Derwent water, in company with Sir John Pringle and Dr Franklin.<\/p>\n

According to his representation, the water, which had been in great agitation, was instantly calmed upon pouring in only a very small quantity of oil, and that to so great a distance round the boat as seems a little incredible.<\/p>\n

I have since had the same accounts from others, but I suspect all of a little exaggeration\u2026<\/p>\n

I shall be glad to have an authentic account of the Keswick experiment.<\/p>\n

Dr Franklin answers Dr Brownrigg, with his experiences of oil quieting waters at sea, and on a large pond at Clapham, but beyond mentioning \u2018in our journey to the north, when we had the pleasure of seeing you at Ormathwaite,\u2019 there is no mention of an experiment in Cumberland.<\/p>\n

Oil on troubled waters, practised in 1890<\/h2>\n

Benjamin Franklin’s experiment may not have proved anything conclusively, but the belief persisted. A further Cumbrian example shows up in 1890.<\/p>\n

One John Brydon<\/strong>, aged 17, had been washed overboard in the Indian Ocean and drowned.<\/p>\n

He was an apprentice on the vessel Crummock Water, caught up in a gale on March 31 and April 1 on a voyage to Port Pirie.<\/p>\n

In his log, the ship\u2019s captain, Captain Amery<\/strong>, recorded that he used 25 gallons of oil over the sides, with some effect.<\/p>\n

But then the wind changed and a tremendous sea broke over amidships on the port side. Sever crew were washed over the rail, and while four clung on and were saved, three drowned.<\/p>\n

The report calls Captain Amery a \u2018thorough believer\u2019 in the use of oil on troubled waters, using it to great effect, but said he had been engaged in other work when the fatal wave was shipped.<\/p>\n

Brydon\u2019s mother is described, in two publications, as Mrs Brydon of Abbey Street, Carlisle.<\/p>\n

With the index failing to find her, I had to trawl through the 1891 census the \u2018old-fashioned way\u2019 (ie page by page) to find:<\/p>\n

36 Abbey Street<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elizabeth G Brydon, 44, widow, living on own means<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anthony P, 16, son, scholar<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ann J, 14, daughter, scholar. All three born Whitehaven.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1881, all three were in Whitehaven, with John (then aged eight). Elizabeth was already widowed and living with her brother, M – Wilson, brazier, at 105 Duke Street.<\/p>\n

Given the location, and Elizabeth being widowed in her 30s, I wonder if the poor woman lost her husband at sea?<\/p>\n

Does oil on troubled waters work?<\/h2>\n

Finally, a 2005\u00a0article<\/a> that suggests there’s some truth in it.<\/p>\n

First published December 2017<\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pouring oil on troubled waters Pouring oil on troubled waters \u2013 as a metaphor \u2013 is familiar to all of us. It means trying to calm a dispute with soothing words. Benjamin Franklin’s experiment in Cumberland in the 1770s put it to the test The origin of the saying is simply an old belief that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,2,3],"tags":[24,36,25],"class_list":["post-118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cumbria-history","category-family-history","category-social-history","tag-benjamin-franklin","tag-cumbria-history","tag-experiment"],"yoast_head":"\nBenjamin Franklin's experiment in Cumberland - Cumbrian Characters<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pouring oil on troubled waters if more than a metaphor, it's a practical theory, and Benjamin Franklin's experiment in Cumberland in the 1770s put it to the test.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/crimesofthecenturies.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/17\/benjamin-franklins-visit-cumberland\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Benjamin Franklin's experiment in Cumberland - 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