Podcast Summary: Stuff You Missed in History Class – SYMHC Classics: Andrew Crosse
Hosts: Tracy V. Wilson, Holly Fry
Release Date: January 3, 2026 (Classic episode originally aired January 27, 2021)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Theme:
An exploration of the eccentric life and misunderstood scientific achievements of Andrew Crosse—a 19th-century English amateur scientist sometimes (erroneously) associated with the creation of life through electricity and mineral experiments.
Overview
This episode delves into the story of Andrew Crosse, a country gentleman and amateur scientist known for his experiments with electricity and minerals. Crosse became infamous due to rumors that he had “created life” in his laboratory, which led to controversy and sensational reporting in Victorian England. Through anecdotes and accounts from his contemporaries and family, hosts Tracy and Holly separate myth from fact, unpack the science behind his experiments, and examine his personal legacy—complete with charming side stories about his home life and eccentric tendencies.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Listener Request and Research Process
- Tracy shares how the episode was pitched via a comment by Kumari on the now-removed podcast website feature, highlighting how listener interactions shape episode topics.
- Notable Moment (04:02): “I just figured out who suggested this... It was a comment on our website from Kumari... Because it’s goofy. It is goofy. This was a joy to work on.” – Tracy
2. Early Life and Eccentricity of Andrew Crosse
- Origins: Born in 1784 at Fine Court, Somerset, into a well-established family.
- Lived in France from age 4-8, learned and forgot French, created elaborate fantasy worlds with his brother, including crafting societies for imaginary “hobble geese.”
- Noted for playful pranks and mischief at school, such as misleading classmates with Latin translations and building fireworks.
- Memorable Anecdote (08:57): “Andrew liked to make his own fireworks... I had a burning glass in my pocket and thought of Archimedes and the Roman fleet. The sun was shining, and I soon drew a focus on the gunpowder, which immediately blew up.” – Tracy
3. A Budding Scientist
- Early fascination with electricity, inspired possibly by his father’s friendship with Benjamin Franklin.
- Attended lectures on optics and electricity while in school, leading to his own experiments, such as constructing a Leyden jar and shocking classmates.
- Experienced ongoing nervous attacks from adolescence, growing into an anxious adult.
4. Transition to Scientific Gentleman
- After inheriting Fine Court and leaving law behind, Crosse devoted himself to chemistry, electricity, and mineralogy.
- Became friends and experimental partners with George John Singer, a respected amateur scientist.
5. Fine Court: The Experimental Estate
- Crosse transformed Fine Court into a laboratory:
- Six or seven furnaces for refining metals
- Silverware and glassware repurposed for scientific use
- One-third mile of copper wire strung from tall trees, feeding a bank of 50 Leyden jars
- Visitors described thunderous “bangs” and surreal electrical displays
- Neighbors’ Reactions:
- Some thought Crosse a wizard or “thunder and lightning man,” feared his experiments, and claimed to see “devils... dancing on the wires” (21:55 – Holly)
- Others believed in the healing powers of his electrical apparatus, attributing miraculous cures to his methods.
6. Personal Life and Household Dynamics
- Married Marianne Hamilton in 1809; had seven children (three died young).
- Household described as chaotic, with irregular routines and strained finances.
- Quote from Ada Lovelace (24:17): “The dinner hour was an accident in the day’s arrangements.”
- Suffered numerous family losses over several years and relied on poetry, science, and friends for solace.
7. Public and Scientific Recognition
- Crosse gave occasional lectures but was generally reclusive and reluctant about public speaking.
- Rumor suggests Mary Shelley may have attended his lecture in 1814, providing possible inspiration for Frankenstein.
8. The 'Creation of Life' Controversy
- In 1836, Crosse’s electrocrystallization experiment with porous stone seemingly resulted in the spontaneous appearance of mites (acarus). He observed their development but never claimed to have created life, instead suspecting their eggs entered the experiment via air.
- Crosse's Account (33:29): “On the 28th day, these little creatures moved their legs. I must now say that I was not a little astonished. After a few days, they detached themselves from the stone and moved about at pleasure.”
- Scientist Richard Owen confirmed the creatures were cheese mites (genus Acarus), not new life forms.
- Crosse’s description was overheard or relayed to a newspaper, which sparked sensationalist claims that he had created life—a charge he always firmly denied.
- Crosse’s Rebuttal (34:32): “I have never ventured an opinion on the cause of their birth... I was unable to form one.”
9. Backlash, Misreporting, and Replication Attempts
- Labeled a blasphemer and “Frankenstein” by media and public; faced ongoing accusations, even threats.
- Only one reported successful replication (by William Henry Weeks in 1841), though later assessment suggests flaws in the experiments.
10. Later Years, Second Marriage, and Legacy
- First wife Marianne died in 1846; deeply affected by her loss and that of his brother.
- Married Cornelia Augusta Hewitt Berkeley in 1850; she was much younger, admired his science, and became his assistant.
- Experimented with various applications of electricity, from purifying seawater to hangover cures.
- Attended the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in 1851.
- Suffered a stroke in 1855 and died soon after; Cornelia published memorial books in his honor.
11. Enduring Memory and the Fate of Fine Court
- Most of Fine Court was destroyed by fire in 1894; some outbuildings and the music library remain.
- The site is now a National Trust property with walking trails and a used bookstore.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Eccentricity (07:41):
- “We're gonna have a talk about this in our Friday episode.” – Holly
- “Because your foolish co host may have tried something similar as an adult.” – Holly
- On Healing with Electricity (22:30):
- “After being electrified twice a week for six weeks, he was so much better that he could walk to Fine Court and the complaint in the throat was entirely removed.” – Cornelia Cross (read by Tracy)
- On Financial Struggles (24:17):
- “My family were learned and honorable men as long as I can look back, but they had the happy knack of turning a guinea into a shilling, and I have inherited that faculty pretty strongly.” – Cross (read by Tracy)
- On Public Reaction (38:16):
- “He was sorry to see that the faith of his neighbors could be overset by the claw of a mite.” – Cornelia Cross (read by Tracy)
Important Timestamps
- Listener suggestion and research process: [03:26-05:52]
- Cross’s childhood and school days: [05:57-11:56]
- Early scientific interests: [10:26-11:56]
- Establishment as a country scientist: [12:57-13:14]
- Fine Court laboratory & neighbors’ fear: [19:23-22:58]
- Ada Lovelace’s impressions: [24:01-24:17]
- Inspiration for Frankenstein rumors: [25:31-26:36]
- British Association for the Advancement of Science & the beginning of fame: [26:36-27:14]
- Electrocrystallization and appearance of mites: [33:29-35:36]
- Media frenzy and Crosse’s denial: [35:36-38:16]
- Death and legacy: [41:20-43:08]
- Cross’s poetry, “The Three Trenches”: [43:08-43:57]
Closing Note
The episode concludes with Tracy reading one of Cross’s own poems—“The Three Trenches”—showcasing his creative side and reminding listeners of the often-overlooked multidimensionality of historical figures. Holly and Tracy reflect on how Cross’s story combines science, misunderstanding, eccentricity, and humanity—a perfect fit for the show’s mission to revisit “the greatest and strangest” stories in history.
For further exploration, listeners are encouraged to seek out Cornelia Cross’s memoirs and visit Fine Court if in Somerset for a touch of history amid the English countryside.