Hi Carol - I did check out John Davy and am reminded from reading his bio that many scientific discoveries are built on the brickwork of those who laid the foundation. He sounds like one of those bricklayers, whose work may not have resulted in an incredible scientific breakthrough on his own, but without it, many discoveries may have never happened. We get so used to today's "age of wonder" where discoveries that used to take lifetimes now we agonize over them if they take decades. We theorize that we'll defeat the horrific diseases of our generation, and we may just succeed. But back then, if you were able to use the crude equipment available to you, and make advancements in the field, those were HUGE to the others in the scientific community that could then build on what you did and carry it forward. I daresay that could he look forward and see what the results of his research were, he would be satisfied with the work he had done.
And amazingly, Humphry Davy is very similar. His work with electricity and the electric lamp is certainly the foundation work needed for others like Edison to carry it forward, refine his work, and build a better lamp - which we have continued to refine and use today. It does appear that his discoveries have been recognized, which is nice when someone lays that foundation and others go out to acknowledge it.
Nice pair of profiles - good work, Carol!