Commemorating Sir Charles Wheatstone on the 150th Anniversary of His Death – Stereoscopy Blog

Today, October 19, 2025, marks the 150th anniversary of the death of British polymath Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875).

As The Stereoscopy Blog, we are obviously indebted to him for his invention of the stereoscope to demonstrate his theory of binocular vision, but that is just one aspect of his incredible research and discoveries in various fields.

Despite his innovations, which still benefit our lives in various ways today, he appears to be under-recognized, overlooked, or appreciated by others. Part of this problem may be due to the fact that Wheatstone was portrayed as a shy man, who preferred to work on, or eagerly discuss with a small group of friends, his ideas and research, rather than spend time speaking publicly and promoting himself. There is no statue to this great man, his family grave is dilapidated and now sunk into the ground, and, until a few months ago, no one would have done anything to honor him today.

So we’re here to try and start fixing things.

Today on the Stereoscopy Blog, you will find a new post every few hours, and I am very grateful to Victor Levy and Denis Pellerin for their efforts. I’m not giving away any spoilers, but I can’t wait for you to read their special article.

Elsewhere, there is a new website www.charleswheatstone.com, which has been in the works for several years, and will hopefully serve as a focal point for flying the flag for this relatively unsung genius. You can learn about his life, discoveries, contributions, and legacy, see what else is happening in his memory, and there’s much more to come. It is hoped that this will lay the foundation for him to gain more recognition and awards he deserves, as well as provide a platform for future projects; time will tell.

So, please enjoy the efforts that have been made to commemorate Sir Charles Wheatstone this weekend, take some time to reflect on his contribution and legacy, and I hope you yourself can find a way to take part in the commemoration.

Thanks to Sir Charles Wheatstone! He is certainly not forgotten.

#Wheatstone150

Copyright © Stereoscopy Blog. All rights reserved.