[Born at Ostgothland, in Sweden, 1779. Died at Stockholm, 1848. Aged
69.]
The son of a village schoolmaster, and educated for the medical
profession. Cultivated with ardour the science of chemistry, which then
scarcely drew the attention of the medical student. Appointed Professor
of Chemical Pharmacy in the University of Stockholm, and retained the
Chair for the space of forty-two years. At home and abroad he attained
to great honour and distinction. In Sweden he was made a noble, and he
could boast of connexion with eighty-eight scientific societies of
Europe and America. His patient investigations helped largely to lay the
foundations of organic chemistry; and to him pre-eminently belongs the
honour of applying the great principles of inorganic chemistry. He
invented the use of symbols for chemical formulæ, an invaluable method
of representing chemical changes; and was as distinguished for his
researches in analytical chemistry, as for his philosophical views of
the science. His personal appearance was that of a strong, healthy man,
and gave no indication of his intellectual power. An early riser,
devoting all his mornings to his scientific labours, and his evenings to
social relaxation. He was beloved in Stockholm.
[By Rauch. Marble. 1822.]