Dalton

Dalton, John, 1766-1844, English scientist. He revived the atomic theory (see atom), which he formulated in the first volume of his New System of Chemical Philosophy (2 vol., 1808-27). He had already applied the concept to a table of atomic weights (1803), in a paper (1805) on the absorption of gases, and in developing his famous law of partial pressures, known also as Dalton's law. His interest in weather conditions led him to keep daily records from 1787 and to write Meteorological Observations and Essays (1793). Dalton, himself afflicted with color blindness, investigated (c.1794) the condition, known also as Daltonism. From 1793 he taught mathematics and physical sciences at New College, Manchester. He was a member of the Royal Society (from 1822) and in 1825 received its medal for his work on the atomic theory.

Dalton, city (1990 pop. 21,761), seat of Whitfield co., extreme NW Ga., in the Appalachian valley; inc. 1847. It is a highly industrialized city in a farm area. Its large tufted-textile industry was begun in the late 1800s and still remains important; the city is the center of the U.S. carpet industry. In the Civil War, Dalton (Confederate headquarters after the Chattanooga campaign) fell to Gen. Sherman in the Atlanta campaign (1864). The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is nearby, as is a state park.

(born Sept. 5 or 6, 1766, Eaglesfield, Cumberland, Eng.—died July 27, 1844, Manchester) British chemist and physicist. He spent most of his life in private teaching and research. His work on gases led him to state Dalton's law (see gas laws). He devised a system of chemical symbols, ascertained the relative weights of atoms, and arranged them into a table. His masterpiece of synthesis was the atomic theory—the theory that each element is composed of tiny, indestructible particles called atoms that are all alike and have the same atomic weight—which elevated chemistry to a quantitative science. He was also the first to describe colour blindness (1794), and his lifelong meteorological journal contains more than 200,000 observations. He is remembered as one of the fathers of modern physical science.

Learn more about Dalton, John with a free trial on Britannica.com.

(born Sept. 5 or 6, 1766, Eaglesfield, Cumberland, Eng.—died July 27, 1844, Manchester) British chemist and physicist. He spent most of his life in private teaching and research. His work on gases led him to state Dalton's law (see gas laws). He devised a system of chemical symbols, ascertained the relative weights of atoms, and arranged them into a table. His masterpiece of synthesis was the atomic theory—the theory that each element is composed of tiny, indestructible particles called atoms that are all alike and have the same atomic weight—which elevated chemistry to a quantitative science. He was also the first to describe colour blindness (1794), and his lifelong meteorological journal contains more than 200,000 observations. He is remembered as one of the fathers of modern physical science.

Learn more about Dalton, John with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Dalton may refer to:

• Dalton, (Da), the atomic mass unit, after chemist John Dalton
• The Dalton School, a private school in New York City
• Dalton (crater), a lunar crater
• Dalton (program), an ab initio quantum chemistry program
• Daltons, a weekly newspaper
• Dalton Transactions, a scientific journal covering inorganic chemistry
• Jesse and Festus, once known as The Daltons, a professional wrestling tag team made up of Jesse Dalton and Festus Dalton

Places in the United Kingdom:

• Dalton, Cumbria, England
• Dalton, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
• Dalton, Lancashire, England
• Dalton, Hexham, Northumberland, England
• Dalton, Ponteland, Northumberland, England
• Dalton, Hambleton, North Yorkshire, England
• Dalton, Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, England
• Dalton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland
• Dalton, South Yorkshire, England
• Dalton, West Yorkshire, England
• Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, England

Places in the United States:

• Dalton, Georgia
• Dalton, Massachusetts
• Dalton, Minnesota
• Dalton, Missouri
• Dalton, Nebraska
• Dalton, New Hampshire
• Dalton, Ohio
• Dalton, Pennsylvania

A place in Israel:

• Dalton (moshav)

People with the given name Dalton:

• Dalton McGuinty, Ontario's Premier
• Dalton Alan Munaretto, a Brazilian footballer
• Dalton Conley, an American sociologist
• The Dalton Gang, brotherhood of outlaws in the American Old West
• James Dalton II, a United States Army general killed in the Philippines during World War II.