▁an ▁authority ▁on ▁electric ity ▁and ▁light ning . ▁ ▁The ▁sp ire ▁of ▁the ▁G rote ▁or ▁Martin iker k ▁( a ▁church ▁in ▁Does burg ) ▁was , ▁in ▁ 1 7 8 2 , ▁the ▁first ▁building ▁in ▁the ▁Netherlands ▁to ▁be ▁equ ipped ▁with ▁a ▁light ning ▁conduct or . ▁ ▁He ▁and ▁Ad ria an ▁Pa ets ▁van ▁Tro ost w ijk ▁in ▁ 1 7 8 7 ▁won ▁first ▁prize ▁for ▁their ▁article ▁on ▁electric ity . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 7 9 1 ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Holland sche ▁Ma at sch app ij ▁der ▁W et enschapp en , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 8 ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Institute ▁( a ▁scientific ▁gen oot schap , ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁prede cess ors ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Netherlands ▁Academy ▁of ▁Arts ▁and ▁Sciences ). ▁ ▁The ▁Bat av ian ▁Republic ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁ 1 7 9 4 ▁K ray en hoff ▁became ▁involved ▁in ▁revolution ary ▁activities ▁of ▁the ▁Patri ots ▁in ▁Amsterdam , ▁while ▁the ▁French ▁revolution ary ▁arm ies ▁under ▁general ▁Charles ▁P iche gru ▁and ▁general ▁Da end els ▁were ▁inv ading ▁the ▁Dutch ▁Republic . ▁ ▁In ▁October ▁ 1 7 9 4 , ▁the ▁revolution aries ▁attempted ▁an ▁ins urre ction ▁in ▁Amsterdam , ▁in ▁which ▁K ray en hoff , ▁together ▁with ▁Alexander ▁G og el ▁was ▁a ▁ring le ader ▁( he ▁acted ▁as ▁Military ▁Officer ▁of ▁the ▁Revolution ary ▁Committee ). ▁After