Joseph Proust
Joseph Louis Proust (26 September 1754 – 5 July 1826) was a French chemist. He was best known for his discovery of the law of definite proportions in 1794, stating that chemical compounds always combine in constant proportions.[1]
Life[edit]
Joseph L. Proust was born on 26 September 1754 in Angers, France. His father served as an apothecary in Angers. Joseph studied chemistry in his father's shop and later went to Paris where he gained the appointment of apothecary in chief to the Salpêtrière.[2] He also taught chemistry with Pilâtre de Rozier, a famous aeronaut.[2]
Under Carlos IV's influence Proust went to Spain. There he taught at the Chemistry School in Segovia and at the University of Salamanca.
But when Napoleon invaded Spain, they burned Proust's laboratory and forced him back to France. On 5 July 1826 he died in Angers, France. The mineral proustite (Ag3AsS3) is named in his honour.