The science in Bridgerton's ballrooms.

 

Like a high proportion of the British public in the last few weeks, I've been binge watching one of Netflix's most popular shows: Bridgerton. There's something about the gossip and drama all set in a regency London that is strangely appealing. 

Anyway, I've decided to pretend that my binge-watching had some purpose and method to it and was actually research for this new blog article.  It's a bit later this week as I had to finish my 'research' and by that, I mean I had to make sure that Benedict Bridgerton DID marry Sophie. I would say spoiler alert but if you have clicked on a blog article with the word 'Bridgerton' in the title, more than a week after Netflix released part 2 of season 4, think that one is a bit on you.

Anyway, this article is about the science seen in Bridgerton. Admittedly, I'm stretching a little in some cases- Bridgerton isn't exactly known for showing the revolutionary scientific advancements of the period but with a little bit of imagination and creativity, I've discovered quite a few things I can write about. 

So first up, Bridgerton is taking place roughly between 1811- 1820. This is a period of time in Britain's history called the Regency era and sits in the afterglow of the Scientific Revolution.

The Scientific Revolution was a period of time where a complete and utter transformation in scientific ideas takes place. The natural philosophy, derived from Greek ideas and traditions, which had pretty much governed Europe is overturned in favour of new ideas that are integrated with maths and rely on logic and observation. Key scientists in this era include Nicholaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and Isaac Newton.  Major advancements are made in astronomy, the 'scientific method' is devised for the first time as is the 'experimental method', and mathematical measurements are used for the first time to explain physical phenomena with algebra and calculus being invented.  Crucially, institutions designed for the research and advancement of science are established. The first of these societies is The Royal Society of London.

                                         Burlington House: Home of the Royal Society from 1873- 1967.

By the time the Regency era rolls around, the major breakthroughs of the scientific revolution have come and gone- but society is still benefiting from and developing idea based on those fundamental discoveries. For example, Newton's laws of motion have been widely accepted and now being applied to practical science, such as mechanics engineering and astronomy. These developments in chemistry and physics will start to drive the Industrial Revolution, which is estimated to have begun around 1760, with early factories being built and production of textiles becoming mechanised. The development of railways, steamships, large factories and electricity will begin around 1830.

Essentially, the characters in Bridgerton are in a world where science is no longer revolutionary but is starting to turn into technology and industry. Meanwhile, organisations such as the Royal Society and the Royal Institution are spreading -and encouraging, knowledge. These institutions are arranging public lectures that prove popular.  These lectures provide ways in which the elite can be entertained -and also be seen.

One of the most famous lecturers was Humphry Davy whose public lectures at the Royal Institution were incredibly popular. Davy made chemistry dramatic and exciting. He would demonstrate flashes of light from chemical reactions and coloured flames, along with explosions and sparks. His lectures were known as dramatic performances and public spectacles.  Davy was also an important researcher, inventing a new technique called Electrolysis which involved breaking compounds apart with electricity. Using this technique, Davy discovered the elements Potassium and Sodium. He also invented the Davy safety lamp for miners. This lamp stopped naked flames used for light igniting methane gas and causing fires. 

Humphry Davy

Science became fashionable amongst the elite- or 'the ton' as heard in Bridgerton.  Gentleman would often collect scientific instruments including globes and telescopes, which could be crafted beautifully in brass and wood.  Ultimately, science wasn't just scholarly pursuit- it was a fashionable pastime.   

So, we have the rise of the gentleman scientists. These would have been educated amateurs from the upper classes and potentially the middle class who pursued science out of curiosity and intellectual interest- and had the financial means to do so. At this stage, a scientist is not a fully professional career, meaning the only people who could actually study, and experiment would be those people who were wealthy enough not to need paid employment. 

We do actually see the concept of gentleman scientist briefly in season 3 where Colin Bridgerton visits Marina and meets her husband Sir Philip Crane. Sir Philip Crane has a title and estate and is shown to be deeply interested in botany and plant research.  He is cultivating specimens and experimenting in his greenhouse- but this work is not a profession. It is a personal intellectual pursuit. Philip has the time, space and resources to pursue this interest. 

Sir Philip Crane

Bridgerton also has quite a focus on gardens and botany. Botany, also known as natural history, was a very fashionable scientific interest in the Regency era for the educated elites. It was common for the elite to build greenhouses, experiment with cultivation and breeding and collect specimens from expeditions. Many plants now common in the UK were brought in by gentlemen botanists in the Regency era.  This includes Camellias, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias and also the Monkey Puzzle Tree - which due to its unusual appearance and exotic origin from South America became a status symbol. The pineapple was also brought into Britain from South America around this time by gentleman scientists. It was incredibly difficult to grow a pineapple in Britain's cold and damp climate, meaning that to do so, a gentleman would require greenhouses, and skilled gardeners. This meant that they became a symbol of status, displaying that a gentleman had wealth and an interest in science. 

Monkey Puzzle.

A famous example of this gentleman scientist would have been William Herschel. Born in Hanover, Herschel was working in the city of Bath. As a hobby, William Herschel began building his own telescopes due to his interest in astronomy.  In 1781, Herschel discovered Uranus which brought him fame across Europe and a royal pension from King George III.  

William Herschel

Speaking of King George III, the Regency era occurs in Great Britain due to his alleged madness. He is seen occasionally in Bridgerton, although a younger version is seen in the spin-off show Queen Charlotte.  King George III experienced episodes of confusion, manic speech, erratic behaviour and hallucinations. Whilst he would initially recover from these episodes, by 1811 his condition has become more or less permanent, and his son became Prince Regent - beginning the Regency period. 

It has been suggested that King George III had a genetic disorder called Porphyria. This condition disrupts the production of heme, a component of haemoglobin. Symptoms could include abdominal pain, neurological problems and psychiatric symptoms. Interestingly, it can change the colour of urine and there are reports suggesting that King George III was producing blue-tinted urine. 

However, the more accepted and modern theory is that King George had bipolar disorder.  It has been suggested that the blue urine was caused by medicines that the king was taking. One medicine that King George might have been consuming was gentian extract - a blue flowering plant which can turn urine blue. It has also been suggested that King George's constipation increased a type of bacteria in the gut. This bacteria produced a certain pigment which could also have been the reason for the blue urine. 

King George III 

In season 2, we have the infamous bee scene where Lord Bridgerton dies after being stung by a bee. In this time, it was known that bee stings could cause severe reactions and some people were more susceptible. But they had no idea why. Doctors believed that these severe reactions were caused by people having a 'nervous temperament' or an 'irritability of the system'.  Inflammation could be reduced by putting vinegar or ammonia on the sting or using poultices of herbs, but Regency science did not yet known about the immune system or anaphylaxis.  Some observers did notice that experienced beekeepers seemed less affected by sting. This led to some early speculation about tolerance. 

Lord Edmund Bridgerton. 

In season 3, we have the famous hot air balloon demonstration where Penelope trips and has to be rescued by Colin.  This scene is a good example of how science was fashionable. The ton attends this event to see the balloon being prepared for launch. The Montgolfier brothers had carried out the first balloon flights in 1783 and from there, they became massive public spectacles. The scientific revolution had uncovered the physics knowledge needed to understand why a balloon could rise. These balloons could be used to study air pressure at different altitudes, temperature changes and also the composition of the air. As such, they made the first experiments in meteorology and atmospheric science possible. They will also later be used for weather observation and mapping landscapes. 

The hot air balloon scene. 

What you might have noticed that in Bridgerton, the ballrooms are lit by candles.  This may be an artistic choice to make the setting look more intimate and romantic but there is some truth to this. The discovery that coal gas can be burned to give light takes place in the 1790s, with gas lighting being used publicly in London in 1807. Between 1810 and the 1820s, gas lighting spreads across London and other cities for shops, factories and theatres. Wealthy homes start to adopt it from 1820s onwards.  In later seasons of Bridgerton, we might start to see houses of the ton start using gas lighting to illuminate their ballrooms, just as the scientific revolution illuminated the gentlemen scientists of the Regency era.