Last updated at 16:33, Monday, 08 February 2010

Cumbrian scientist John Dalton died more than 150 years ago, but he is still spreading knowledge in the internet age.

Dalton was born and raised in Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, in 1766. He remained in Cumberland until the age of 26 before moving to Manchester, where he was based for the remainder of his life.

Dalton’s many studies included atomic theory, meteorology, and colour blindness.

This last area has just brought Dalton to the attention of thousands of people around the world.

The website wordsmith.org sends its subscribers a word of the day, and last week that word was Daltonism; ‘colour blindness, especially the inability to distinguish between red and green.’

Dalton died in 1844, aged 77. He is remembered more in Manchester than in Cumbria, with a John Dalton Street in the centre of the city, as well as several busts and statues.

He even has a lunar crater named in his honour. Can any other Cumbrian claim that?

First published at 11:24, Monday, 08 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk