Sir Humphry Davy (often misspelled Humphrey Davey) was an English chemist born in Penzance, Cornwall, England. He is best known for his experimentations with the physiological properties and anaesthetic effects of nitrous oxide. He administered N2O to visitors of the Pneumatic Institute in Bristol, England and recorded its effects. He is responsible for coining the term "laughing gas". Davy became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1803 and served as its president from 1820 to 1827. He was knighted by King George in 1812.