Robert Boyle 1627-1691

Birth and Family Life

“If the temperature remains constant the volume of a given mass of gas is inversely proportional to the absolute pressure.”
[Boyle’s Law]

Robert Boyle was born in Lismore Castle on January 25th 1627.  He was the seventh son and 14th child of Richard Boyle, The Great Earl of Cork.  Much of his early life is portrayed in an autobiographical tract entitled “An account of Philaretus (1)  during his Minority.”  Commenting with pleasure on his position in the family Boyle states:

 “For as on the one side, a lower birth would have too much exposed him to the inconveniences of a mean descent, which are too notorious to need specifying; so on the other side, to a person, whose humour indisposes him to the distracting hurry of the world, the being born heir to a great family is but a glittering kind of slavery, whilst obliging him to a public entangled course of life, to support the credit of his family, and tying him from satisfying his dearest inclinations, it often forces him to build the advantages of his house upon the ruins of his own contentment." (2) 

He was fostered locally, provided with a “coarse but cleanly diet” by his foster parents and while his father has claimed this as his unique initiative such fosterage had for centuries been a common feature of Irish life. He developed a stammer at an early age, possibly in consequence of copying neighbourhood children and later suggested this was a “just judgment upon his derision.” Interestingly his sister Mary, who later became a major figure in English Puritanism, is at this time described as ‘unrewly.’ The dangers of travel in the 17th Century is vividly described by Boyle in and incident which occurred at Four-mile-Water near Clonmel when in crossing a ford of the River Suir:

“The little boy was left in a coach with no other companion but a foot-boy, when ‘a gentleman of his father’s, very well horsed, accidentally espying him, in spite of some others and his own unwillingness and resistance, carried him in arms over the rapid water, which proved so much beyond expectation both swift and deep that horses with their riders were violently hurried down the stream, which easily overturned the unloaded coach, the horses (after by long struggling they had broke their harness) with much ado saved themselves by swimming.” (3) 

At the age of nine Robert was sent to Eaton with his brother Francis.  The school was then under the Provost Sir Henry Wotton [1568-1639] a cousin of Francis Bacon[1561-1626].  The childrens House Master was John Harrison [d.1642].  After a few years spent at Eton Robert and Francis remained at their Father’s newly purchased Stalbridge House and were tutored by the village Rector Mr. William Douch (4).  On the return of Roger Boyle, Lord Broghill and Lewis Boyle, Lord Kinalmeaky to England from the Grand Tour their guide Isaac Marcombes [1605-1665] was assigned to teach the younger boys. Though by no means a sporting man, Robert developed during this period an interest in tennis, “a sport he ever passionately loved.” (5)

(1) Philaretus means a lover of truth
(2) Boyle, Robert.  The works of the Honourable Robert Boyle.  In six volumes. To which is prefixed The life of the Author.  London: Printed for J. and F. Rivington, L. Davis, W. Johnston, S. Crowder, T. Payne, G. Kearsley, J. Robson, B. White, T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, T. Davies, T. Cadell, Robinson and Roberts, Richardson and Richardson, J. Knox, W. Woodfall, J. Johnson and T. Evans. 1772.  Vol. I. pg. xiii.
(3) Farrington, Thomas A life of the Honble. Robert Boyle, F.R.S. scientist and philanthropist.  Cork: Printed by Guy and Co. Ltd. 1917 24p. pg. 6.
(4) William Douch was appointed Rector of Stalbridge in 1621.  During the Civil War he was challenged by Parliamentary Forces for Royalist Sympathies and was not supported by Boyle possibly in a mood of self-preservation during dangerous times
(5) Boyle, Robert Works  vol. I  pg. xxi

The Grand Tour

It has been suggested that the Grand Tour was “in essence a British invention because by the 18th Century, Britain was the wealthiest nation in the world and had a large upper class with both the time and the money to travel” but it is particularly noteworthy that four of the Boyle family made such journeys almost a century earlier.  Robert and Francis began their tour at the end of 1639.  During their sojourn in Switzerland Robert experienced a major storm and,

“the fourteen-year old boy thought the end of the world had come, and made the resolve and vow ‘that if his fears were that night disappointed, all his further additions to his life should be more religiously and watchfully employed.” (6)

They also met the famous Protestant preacher, Dr. John Diodati, during their time in Geneva.  At Florence they studied the “new paradoxes of the great star-gazer Galileo ” (7) who died during their stay in the city.  While in Florence Boyle mentions a visit to a city brothel but emphasises that he did not participate in any activities there and indicating an awakening of his sexuality he continues,

 “But though Philaretus were no fuel for forbidden flames, he proved the object of unnatural ones, for being at that time in the flower of youth, and the cares of the world having not yet faded a complexion naturally fresh enough, as he was once unaccompanied diverting himself abroad, he was somewhat rudely pressed by the preposterous courtship of two friars, whose lust makes no distinction of sexes, but that which its preference of their own creates, and not without difficulty and danger forced a scape from those gowned Sodomites…” (8)
 
The party continued on to Rome and he provides an interesting summation of his views on that city:

“that imperious theme of fame, which destinated to some kind or other of universal monarchy, is now no less considerable by its present superstition, than formerly by its victorious arms; the modern Popes bringing it as high a veneration as the ancient Caesars, and the Barberine bees flying as far as did the Roman eagles.” (9)

The left Italy and travelled to Marseilles and while there he “had the pleasure to see the French King’s fleet put to sea, and about two thousand poor slaves tug at the oar to row them.” (10) Whether this is a literal or metaphoric reference remains to be researched.  During this visit they were there appraised of the news of the outbreak of rebellion in Ireland.  They went to Geneva and stayed with Isaac Marcombes and while Francis soon returned home Robert stayed in the city for over two years.  When asked by his Father to return to Ireland or proceed to England Robert wrote that:

“after his long journey of 800 miles he was ‘as yet too weake to undertake so long a voyage in a strange country, where I arrive I know nobody, and have little hope by reason of my youth to be received among the troops.” (11)

While this casts considerable doubt on the courage and willingness of Robert to support his father’s cause it would appear that it did not overly annoy his father as shortly before his death the Great Earl wrote sending “for him, and after his wont had a valuable ring purchased to be duly presented from him to the little Lady Ann Howard, whom he was pleased to call ‘my Robyn’s younge Mrs.”(12) There may also be a suggestion here that this was an intended bride for Robert.   During the tour a letter sent by Marcombes reveals that Robert’s stammer had not improved:

“ …I perceive some corroboration in his tongue (specially when he speaks French or Latin) yet then for half a quarter of an hour he did stammer and stutter so much that Mr. Francis and I could scarce understand him and scarce forbear laughing.” (13)

(6) Farrington, Thomas.  A life of the Honble. Robert Boyle pg. 9
(7) Galileo Galilei 1564-1642
(8) Boyle, The Works vol. I pg. xxv
(9) Boyle, Robert.  The works vol. I. pg. xxv
(10) Boyle, Robert.  The works Vol. I. pg. xxvi
(11) Farrington, Thomas.  A life of the Honble. Robert Boyle pg. 11
(12) Farrington, Thomas.  A life of the Honble. Robert Boyle  pg. 11
(13) 25th February 1639.  F. Marcombes to Boyle. Lismore Papers