Pierre Bayen (7 February 1725–14 February 1798) was a French chemist (

apothecary ''Apothecary'' () is an Early Modern English, archaic English term for a medicine, medical professional who formulates and dispenses ''materia medica'' (medicine) to physicians, surgeons and patients. The modern terms ''pharmacist'' and, in Brit ...

). He analyzed mineral water drunk in France (then a kingdom), and wrongly suggested that using pewter glasses rendered the water toxic. After his studies he began a career in the military that spanned more than forty years. During the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War, 1756 to 1763, was a Great Power conflict fought primarily in Europe, with significant subsidiary campaigns in North America and South Asia. The protagonists were Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of Prus ...

he met and befriended Parmentier who was his subordinate. * Bayen was a member of the ''College de Pharmacie'' from around 1766. * Bayen became a member of the

French Academy of Sciences The French Academy of Sciences (, ) is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French Scientific method, scientific research. It was at the forefron ...

in 1785 and the

Institut de France The ; ) is a French learned society, grouping five , including the . It was established in 1795 at the direction of the National Convention. Located on the Quai de Conti in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, the institute manages approximately ...

in 1795. He burned all his papers during the

Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror (French: ''La Terreur'', literally "The Terror") was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the French First Republic, First Republic, a series of massacres and Capital punishment in France, nu ...

of 1793-1794. * Bayen became the Inspector General of the Health Services in 1796.

Legacy

* Bayen is credited as the father of Military Pharmacy. * There is a road in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

and in Chalons named after him. * The Lycée Pierre Bayen in Chalons was named in his memory.

References

1725 births 1798 deaths People from Châlons-en-Champagne 18th-century French chemists Members of the French Academy of Sciences {{France-chemist-stub