Nicolas Lémery (or Lemery as his name appeared in his international publications) (17 November 1645 – 19 June 1715), French chemist, was born at
Rouen
Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the region of Normandy and the department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe, the population ...
. He was one of the first to develop theories on acid-base chemistry.
Life
After learning
pharmacy
Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medication, medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it ...
in his native town he became a pupil of
Christophe Glaser
Christopher Glaser (1615 – between 1670 and 1678), a pharmaceutical chemist of the 17th century.
Life
He was born in Basel. He became demonstrator of chemistry, as successor of Lefebvre, at the Jardin du Roi in Paris, and apothecary to Louis X ...
in
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
, and then went to
Montpellier
Montpellier (, , ; oc, Montpelhièr ) is a city in southern France near the Mediterranean Sea. One of the largest urban centres in the region of Occitania, Montpellier is the prefecture of the department of Hérault. In 2018, 290,053 people l ...
, where he began to lecture on
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...
. He next established a pharmacy in Paris, still continuing his lectures, but following 1683, being a
Calvinist
Calvinism (also called the Reformed Tradition, Reformed Protestantism, Reformed Christianity, or simply Reformed) is a major branch of Protestantism that follows the theological tradition and forms of Christian practice set down by John C ...
, he was obliged to retire to
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe ...
. In the following year he returned to France, and turning
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
in 1686 was able to reopen his shop and resume his lectures. He died in Paris on 19 June 1715.
Lemery did not concern himself much with theoretical speculations, but holding chemistry to be a demonstrative science, confined himself to the straightforward exposition of facts and experiments. In consequence, his lecture-room was thronged with people of all sorts, anxious to hear a man who shunned the barren obscurities of the
alchemists
Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim ...
, and did not regard the quest of the
philosopher's stone
The philosopher's stone or more properly philosophers' stone (Arabic: حجر الفلاسفة, , la, lapis philosophorum), is a mythic alchemical substance capable of turning base metals such as mercury into gold (, from the Greek , "gold", ...
and the
elixir of life
The elixir of life, also known as elixir of immortality, is a potion that supposedly grants the drinker eternal life and/or eternal youth. This elixir was also said to cure all diseases. Alchemists in various ages and cultures sought the mean ...
as the sole end of his science. Of his ''Cours de chymie'' (1675) he lived to see 13 editions, and for a century it maintained its reputation as a standard work.
In 1680, using the
corpuscular theory
In optics, the corpuscular theory of light states that light is made up of small discrete particles called " corpuscles" (little particles) which travel in a straight line with a finite velocity and possess impetus. This was based on an alternate ...
as a basis, Lemery stipulated that the
acidity
In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a ...
of any substance consisted in its pointed particles, while
alkalis
In chemistry, an alkali (; from ar, القلوي, al-qaly, lit=ashes of the saltwort) is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal. An alkali can also be defined as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a so ...
were endowed with pores of various sizes.
[Lemery, Nicolas. (1680). ''An Appendix to a Course of Chymistry.'' London, pp. 14–15.] A molecule, according to this view, consisted of corpuscles united through a geometric locking of points and pores.
His other publications included ''Pharmacopée universelle'' (1697), ''Traité universel des drogues simples'' (1698), ''Traité de l'antimoine'' (1707), together with a number of papers contributed to the
French Academy
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
, one of which offered a chemical and physical explanation of underground fires,
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...
s,
lightning
Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the ground, temporarily neutralize themselves, causing the instantaneous release of an average ...
and thunder. He discovered that heat is evolved when iron filings and
sulfur
Sulfur (or sulphur in British English) is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with a chemical formul ...
are rubbed together to a paste with water, and the artificial ''volcan de Lemery'' was produced by burying underground a considerable quantity of this mixture, which he regarded as a potent agent in the causation of volcanic action.
His son
Louis Lémery (1677–1743) was appointed physician at the
Hôtel-Dieu de Paris In French-speaking countries, a hôtel-Dieu ( en, hostel of God) was originally a hospital for the poor and needy, run by the Catholic Church. Nowadays these buildings or institutions have either kept their function as a hospital, the one in Paris b ...
in 1710, and became demonstrator of chemistry at the
Jardin du Roi in 1731. He was the author of a ''Traité des aliments'' (1702), and of a ''Dissertation sur la nature des os'' (1704), as well as of a number of papers on chemical topics.
Works
* ''Cours de chymie : contenant la maniere de faire les operations qui sont en usage dans la medecine, par un methode facile ; avec des raisonnements sur chaque operation, pour l'instruction de ceux qui veulent s'appliquer a cette science''. - 6. ed. - Paris : Michallet, 1687
Digital edition/173
Digital 11th edition / 174
Digital edition of the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''Het philosoophze laboratorium, oft' der chymisten stook-huis''. - Amsterdam : ten Hoorn, 1691
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''Nouveau recueil de
curiositez, les plus rares & admirables de tous les effects, que l'art & la nature sont capables de produire''. Volume 1–2. Dernière édition augmentée, corrigée & enrichie de tailles-douces. Leyde : van der Aa, 1688
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
* ''Nouveau recueil de
secrets et curiositez, les plus rares & admirables de tous les effects, que l'art & la nature sont capables de produire''. - 5. ed. - Amsterdam : Mortier, 1697
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
*
1*
2* ''A course of chymistry : containing an easie method of preparing those chymical medicins which are used in physick ; with curious remarks and useful discourses upon each preparation, for the benefit of such a desire to be instructed in the knowledge of this art''. - The 3rd. ed., transl. from the 8th ed. in the French. - London : Kettilby, 1698
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''Cours de chymie, oder der vollkommene Chymist : welcher die in der Medicin gebräuchlichen chymischen Processe auff die leichteste und heilsamste Art machen lernt''... Aus der 9. frantzösischen Edition des 1697sten Jahres ins Teutsche übersetzet. Winckler, Dresden 169
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University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''A compleat history of druggs : written in French by Monsieur Pomet, chief druggist to the present French king ; to which is added what is further observable on the same subject, from Messrs. Lemery and Tournefort, divided into 3 classes, vegetable, animal and mineral, with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy and several other arts ; done into English from the originals''. London, 171
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* ''Farmacopea universale che contiene tutte le composizioni di farmacia le qualisono in uso nella medicina : tanto in Francia, quanto per tutta l'europa, ... e di piu un vocabolario farmaceutico, molte nuove osservazioni, ed alcuni ragionamenti sopra ogni operazione''. Venezia : Gio. Gabriel Hertz, 172
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University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
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* ''Dictionaire, ou traité universel des drogues simples ou l’on trouve leurs differens noms, leur origine, leur choix, les principes qu’elles renferment, leurs qualitez, leur etymologie, & tout ce qu’il ya de particulier dans les animaux, dans les vegetaux, & dans les mineraux ; ouvrage dependant de la Pharmacopee universelle'' . Hofhout, Rotterdam 4.ed. 172
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The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
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* ''Pharmacopée universelle : contenant toutes les compositions de pharmacie qui sont en usage dans la medicine, tant en France que par toute l'Europe, leurs vertus, leurs doses, les manieres d'operer les plus simples & les meilleures ; avec un lexicon pharmaceutique, plusieurs remarques nouvelles, et des raisonnemens sur chaque operation''. d’Houry, Paris 3.ed. 172
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* ''Cours de chymie : contenant la maniere de faire les operations qui sont en usage dans la medecine, par un methode facile ; avec des raisonnemens sur chaque operation, pour l'instruction de ceux qui veulent s'appliquer a cette science''. - 11. ed. - Paris : Delespine, 1730
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University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''Traité universel des drogues simples : mises en ordre alphabetique, ou l'on trouve leurs differens noms, leur origine, leur choix, les principes qu'elles renferment, leurs qualitez, leur etimologie, & tout ce qu'il ya de particulier dans les animaux, dans les vegetaux, & dans les mineraux ; ouvrage dependant de la Pharmacopee universelle''. d’Houry, Paris 4.ed. 173
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''Cours de chymie : contenant la maniere de faire les operations qui sont en usage dans la medecine, par un methode facile ; avec des raisonnemens sur chaque operation, pour l'instruction de ceux qui veulent s'appliquer a cette science''. - Bruxelles : Leonard, 1744
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
* ''Nicolai Lemeri cursus chymicus, oder vollkommener Chymist : welcher die in der Medicin vorkommenden chymischen Praeparata und Processus auf die vernünfftigste, leichteste und sicherste Art zu verfertigen lehret ; aus dem Frantzösischen übersetzet.'' - ... Bey dieser 5. Aufl. aufs neue durchgesehen, corrigirt und vermehret von Johann Christian Zimmermann. - Dresden : Walther, 1754
Digital editionof the
University and State Library Düsseldorf
The University and State Library Düsseldorf (german: Universitäts- und Landesbibliothek Düsseldorf, abbreviated ULB Düsseldorf) is a central service institution of Heinrich Heine University. Along with Bonn and Münster, it is also one of t ...
.
See also
*
Timeline of hydrogen technologies
References
Sources
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External links
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First chemist to study Antimony*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemery, Nicolas
1645 births
1715 deaths
18th-century French chemists
Members of the French Academy of Sciences
Scientists from Rouen
17th-century French writers
17th-century French male writers
18th-century French writers
18th-century French male writers
17th-century French chemists