RECORDS 



OF 



GENERAL SCIENCE 



JUNE, 1835. 



Article I. 



Biographical Notice ofM. Chaptal. (Ann. de Chim. lii. 205.) 



Jean Antoine Chaptal was born at Nozaret (Lozere) in 

 1756. He was educated at Mende, from whence he repaired 

 to the School of Medicine at Montpellier, and then to Paris. 

 In 1781 he was appointed to the Chair of Chemistry founded 

 by the States of Languedoc. Having been left a large fortune 

 by his uncle, he originated a number of chemical manufac- 

 tories in his adopted city, and thus raised in his own country 

 products which previously were entirely derived from foreign 

 lands. In 1793 he was called to Paris by the Committee of 

 Safety, to manage the saltpetre manufactory. The great 

 establishment of Grenelle became thus the scene of that 

 zeal and industry which were so eminently illustrated during 

 the whole of Chaptal's career. The Polytechnic School 

 numbered him among its first professors. The Institute 

 elected him in the place vacated by the death of M. Payen, 

 and Napoleon, after the establishment of the Consulate, 

 called him to the Council of State. In the year 9 he 

 was made minister of the interior, and towards the end 

 of the year 12 quitted his high functions. His ministry 

 was distinguished by many signal benefits. He devoted 

 much time to the examination of humane establishments, 

 which, from the unfortunate state of the times, had been 

 sadly neglected. He liquidated their debts, furnished them 

 with new funds, regulated their administration, and insti- 

 tuted gratuitous commissions for governing them. At Paris 

 a general council was instituted over these, which produced 

 vol. i. 2d 



