Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753-1814) was an American-born military officer and scientist who remained loyal to the British crown during the American Revolution. He is credited with contributing to the discovery of thermodynamics; while supervising the boring of cannons in Germany, he noticed that a significant amount of heat was produced, and this heat seemed inexhaustible as long as the boring continued.
References[]
- Dr. Bunsen Honeydew invokes Thompson in his explanation of heat while introducing a Muppet Labs Field Test in the Muppets Now episode "Fever Pitch." A chalkboard-animated Gonzo plays Sir Thompson before shedding away his attire to reveal his stunt gear, ready to be shot out of a cannon.