Bunsen Bummer

Did you know …

That the common piece of laboratory equipment the “bunsen burner” was not, in fact, named by the tool’s co-designer Robert Bunsen? Nor was it named by the mechanic who constructed the device for Bunsen, Peter Desaga. Nope!

The Bunsen burner earned its name after Jefferson Charles, the man whose wife Bunsen had been “porking like a hog farm” (Bunsen’s words, not mine), attempted to use one to burn down Bunsen’s lab.

Unfortunately for poor Herr Charles, the burner was not plugged into a gas nozzle, and so could not create a flame. Also, the building he was attempting to burn wasn’t even Bunsen’s lab, it was the shed where the University of Heidelberg kept its rakes and stuff. And, of course, Bunsen wasn’t even in the shed—he at Charles’ house, having a nice morning in with Charles’ wife.

When a groundskeeper discovered Jefferson attempting to ignite the burner (and the shed), Jefferson attempted to shoot himself. Fortunately (or not?) for Jefferson, he attempted to shoot himself using the Bunsen burner. 

What a rascal!