BLACK THE EMINENT CHEMIST.

Thames Star, Volume IIII, Issue 1698, 12 June 1874, Page 2

BLACK THE EMINENT CHEMIST.

In an article., on explosive gas, published in Tuesday's issue of the StaiVßlack was mentioned as the greatest chemist which Scotland has produced, To this ''rHibernia" took exception in a: short letter which appeared in yesterday's issue.. We had not the means at hand to say that " Hibernia " was, wrong/ but we hare gleaned the following from "Chambers' Encyclopaedia of Universal* Knowledge," Vol. 11., from which it will be seen that as a chemist, at leasts Scotland can claim Joseph Black as one of her "son's-:—- '•■■ ■ •'■■■:-"- ■■■■ ' ; Black, Joseph, an eminent chemist, was born at Bordeaux where his fathW was I engaged: 7 in the wine trade. Both his parents Mere of Scotch* Mescent, but nativ.es of Belfast, to which their son wassentfor his education in. 1740. In 1746 hejentered ihe uuiversity of Glasgow .and studied chemistry under "Dr Cullen; .In 1751 he went to Edinburgh to com: plete his medical course, and in 1754 took his degree. His,thesis .on the nnture'of thej causticity of lime and the alkalis, svhich he showed to be owing to the absence of the carbonic acid (called by him air) present in limestone and in what are now called the carbonates of the alka-i lis, contained, his first contribution to chemical science, and excited considerable attention. 1n.1756, on the removal of Qullen to Edinburgh, Black succeeded him as professor of anatomy (which branch he afterwards exchanged for medicine) and lecturer on chemistry in Glasgow. Between 1759 and 1763 he evolved that theory of "latent heat," on which his scientific fame chiefly rests, and which formed the immediate preliminary to the next great stride in discovery by his pupil and assistant James Watt. In, 1766 Cullen ■ was appointed -to the chair of theoretical medicine in Edinburgh and Black succeeded him in the chair of Qhemistry. .• Thenceforth he cjevoted him--self chiefly to the elaboration of his lec^ tures, in which he arrived at the utmost degree of perspicuity, and with perfect success. 'His' chiss' became one of the most popular in tho University ; it occasioned, however, some disappointment that one so capable of enlarging its territory made no further contributions to chemistry. Though of an extremely delicate constitution be prolonged his life by care and temperance to the age of 71| He died on-the 26th November. 1799. \