Michael Faraday was born on 22 September 1791 in south London to relatively poor parents. At the age of 14, he left school and started an apprenticeship at a local bookbinder. In his spare time he was an avid reader, teaching himself many scientific concepts. Faraday was thus mostly self-taught and became one of the greatest scientists despite his rudimentary maths. Michael Faraday was an influential British scientist who, amongst other discoveries, helped turn electricity into a property that could be easily used.