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It's the evening of July 14th, 1791 in Birmingham, England. A family of three sits down for dinner.

At the head of the table is an Englishman in

his 50s, the eminent philosopher and scientist Joseph Priestley. Over the years

Joseph's controversial writings about religion and politics have made him many enemies.

Most recently his outspoken support for the French Revolution has ruffled feathers across English society.

But tonight Joseph enjoys a moment of calm. He smiles contentedly at his wife, Mary, and his 20-year-old son, William.

But the peaceful family moment is interrupted when Joseph hears something in the distance, a cacophony of raised voices drifting in through the open window.

Concerned Joseph stands. He walks to the window and peers out into the night.

There in the darkness he sees a large group of

angry townspeople just visible beyond the ivy-strewn walls of his garden.

Joseph tells his son to blow out all the candles in the house. He hopes that with the flames extinguished,

the mob will assume nobody's home, but the rabble outside isn't fooled. As they draw nearer to the

house, Joseph decides his only option is to run. He takes his wife's hand

and leaves her to the back door, his son close on their heels. Together they

descend a flight of stairs toward the exit, but Joseph stops in his tracks. He tells Mary and to

the exit, but Joseph stops in his tracks. He tells Mary and William to wait for him outside.

He needs to grab some things from his laboratory.

Back upstairs inside the lab, Joseph makes a beeline for his clutter desk.

...