Michael Faraday was born on September 22, 1791, in Newington Butts, which is now part of South London.¹⁾

Faraday came from a poor family; his father was a blacksmith.²⁾

Faraday received only a basic education and learned to read and write at a local church Sunday school.³⁾

At the age of 14, Faraday was apprenticed to a local bookbinder and bookseller, George Riebau.⁴⁾

During his apprenticeship, Faraday developed a keen interest in science by reading books that came into the shop.⁵⁾