The following pages are taken from the 1998 History of Electrochemistry calendar. It is provided each year as a service to science teachers and other educators as part of the chemical education outreach program of

Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.

Publication of this calendar would not have been possible without the support of two individuals who enthusiastically shared their extensive knowledge of the history of chemistry. Professor Derek Davenport of Purdue University wrote several of the historical profiles and provided his copy of Muspratt's Chemistry. Professor William Jensen of the University of Cincinnati wrote the remaining profiles and offered valuable advice. The Muspratt series was the source of the engravings and signatures depicted with each biographical sketch.

During the period covered by this calendar (1728-1899), chemical science made dramatic progress. Its practitioners were rarely identified as chemists. Some were “natural philosophers,” others had been trained as mathematicians, physicians, engineers, lawyers, and theologians. Yet they all shared a love of inquiry and the fervent desire to understand the most fundamental processes in nature. It was during this time that many pure forms of the elements were first isolated and described by Davy and Gay-Lussac. Atomic weights were determined by Dumas and categorized by Berzelius. Colloidal chemistry traces its roots to the works of Graham, who also developed the technique of dialysis. Electrochemistry grew from a curiosity to a valuable and practical science as new technologies such as the telegraph fueled the demand for more powerful batteries. The foundations of entire chemical industries, such as synthetic dyes, can be traced back to this period in history. It was a time of innocent inquiry, innovation and great discovery which laid the foundation for the explosion of chemical, physical and biological science that followed during the twentieth century.

The brief biographies offered in this calendar barely hint at the contributions made by these individual chemists. Their personal stories are frequently quite compelling and worthy of further consideration. Some references are included for those who seek a better understanding of this period in history.