April 05

William Derham was born in 1657 and served as a Church of England minister while engaging in scientific inquiry. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society and authored key works such as Physico-Theology and Astro-Theology, which sought to reconcile religious faith with scientific observations. Derham famously conducted experiments to estimate the speed of sound by timing the difference between seeing a distant event and hearing its sound. His meticulous measurements and correspondence with prominent scientists of his day advanced meteorological and acoustic science. His writings influenced the development of natural theology and inspired future thinkers. Derham died in 1735, remembered as a bridge between ecclesiastical duties and scientific exploration.