Royal Institution Christmas Lectures Royal Institution Christmas Lectures The Royal Institution Christmas Lectures are a series of lectures on a single topic each, which have been held at the Royal Institution in London each year since 1825, missing 1939–42 because of the Second World War. The lectures present scientific subjects to a general audience, including young people, in an informative and entertaining manner. Michael Faraday initiated the first Christmas Lecture series in 1825. This came at a time when organised education for young people was scarce. Faraday presented a total of nineteen series in all. The Royal Institution's Christmas Lectures were first held in
Humphrey Morrey Humphrey Morrey Humphrey Morrey, or Murrey (1716) was the first Mayor of Philadelphia under William Penn's 1691 charter. He was not elected, but rather was appointed by Penn. He was ancestor of the singer, actor, and political activist Paul Robeson. Morrey was one of the 15 founders of Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania. Morrey first came to Philadelphia in 1683 and worked as a merchant. In 1685, he was appointed a justice of the peace. In 1687, and again in 1690, he was chosen to the provincial assembly. In the charter of March 20, 1691, by which Philadelphia was incorporated as a