Sir Benjamin Thompson,
Count Rumford,
FRS (; March 26, 1753 – August 21, 1814) was an American-born British
physicist and
inventor whose challenges to established
physical theory were part of the 19th century
revolution in
thermodynamics. He also served as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the
Loyalist forces in America during the
American Revolutionary War. After the end of the war he moved to London where his administrative talents were recognized when he was appointed a full Colonel, and in 1784 received a knighthood from
King George III. A prolific designer, he also drew designs for warships. He later moved to
Bavaria and entered government service there, being appointed Bavarian Army Minister and re-organizing the army, and, in 1791, was made a Count of the
Holy Roman Empire.