This study looks at the construction of the German "Wissenschaftler" and the British natural philosopher in late 18th century galvanic discourses. Comparing the work of young scholars such as Alexander von Humboldt, Johann Wilhelm Ritter, Christoph Heinrich Pfaff and Humphry Davy, the author argues that the credibility of the scholar depended on the recognition of his epistemic virtues such as humility, conscientiousness, originality and passion.