Count Rumford Birthplace
Posted by: Shorelander
N 42° 30.469 W 071° 09.651
19T E 322469 N 4708424
The birthplace of Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford.
Waymark Code: WM10WC
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 12/06/2006
Views: 18
Standing at the west corner of Elm and Main Streets in far northern Woburn, Massachusetts, is an unassuming burgundy building surrounded by a white picket fence. This building, however, was the birthplace of one of the greatest American-born inventors of the early days of the country, Sir Benjamin Thompson (later Count Rumford).
Thompson would side with the royalists in the American Revolution, leaving for England and settling there (and later, France). His contributions to science were notable, mainly in thermodynamics. He also was an accomplished inventor - in fact, his influence on chimney and stove designs are felt to this day.
His legacy would live on as well - he founded the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and endowed medals of the Royal Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as a professorship at Harvard University.
Street address: 90 Elm Street Woburn, MA United States 01801
County / Borough / Parish: Middlesex
Year listed: 1975
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Person (Count Rumford)
Periods of significance: 1750-1799
Historic function: Domestic
Current function: Domestic, Recreation and Culture
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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