British physicist John Tyndall dedicated much of his career to
establishing the scientist as a cultural authority. His campaign to free
science from the restraints of theology caused a national uproar, and in
his popular books and lectures he promoted scientific education for all
classes. Though he was often labeled a materialist, religion played a
large role in Tyndall's vision of science, which drew on Carlyle and
Emerson as well as his mentor Michael Faraday. Tyndall's ideas
influenced the development of modern science, and in his efforts to
create an authoritative role for scientists in society, he played a
pivotal role in Victorian history.