Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was born in a village near London. His father was a migrant blacksmith often ill and incapable of providing for his four children. Faraday's great opportunity came when he was offered a ticket to attend chemical lectures by Sir Humphrey Davy in London. Faraday went and sent a bound copy of his notes to Davy asking for employment. Faraday began as Davy's laboratory assistant. It has been said that Faraday was Davy's greatest discovery. Faraday became the greatest experimentalist in electricity and magnetism of the 19th century. He produced an apparatus that was the first electric motor and in 1831 he succeeded in showing that a magnet could induce electricity. Queen Victoria rewarded his lifetime of achievement by granting him the use of a house at Hampton Court and a knighthood. Faraday accepted the cottage but rejected the knighthood.