John Martyn Roberts

Martyn John Roberts FRSE DL (1806–1878) was a 19th-century Welsh scientist and inventor who performed experiments with his unique galvanic battery for controlled explosion and contributed to innovations in conductors, photography theory, voltametetry, electric light and much more.

For other people named John Roberts, see John Roberts (disambiguation).

Life
Llangenny churchyard

He was born in Wales on 2 August 1806 the son of Caroline Yalden of Lovington and her husband, John Roberts. He studied science at the University of Edinburgh.[1]

In 1840 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposer was Sir John Robison.[2]

In 1864 he patented an invention to spin wool.[3] He also in the same year patented a device to reduce friction on ships propellers but this lapsed in 1867 due to non-payment of the £50 stamp duty.[4]

He died on 8 September 1878. He is buried in Llangenny Churchyard.

Family

In 1840 he married Anne Eliza Gordon daughter of William Gordon, brother of Sir John Gordon. They lived at Pendarren House near Crickhowell in Wales.[5]

Their eldest son was William Scarlett Roberts (b.1849).

References
  1. The Country Families of the United Kingdom, E Walford
  2. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
  3. London Gazette 15 April 1864
  4. London Gazette 13 December 1867
  5. "Person Page". www.thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2019-06-02.


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