Michael Faraday was a British scientist born in 1791 who made seminal contributions to electromagnetism and electrochemistry. Though he had little formal education, he educated himself by attending lectures and taking detailed notes. He later worked as an assistant to Humphry Davy and conducted experiments that established electromagnetic induction and the principles of electricity generation. Some of Faraday's key discoveries included the electric motor, generators, and the foundations of electromagnetism. His innovative work and concepts helped enable the development of modern electromagnetic technology.