Antoine Quinquet
Encyclopedia
Antoine Quinquet was a French
pharmacist
who was born in Soissons
on 9th March 1745. In 1760 he was apprenticed to an apothecary
in Soissons and in 1777 he moved to Paris
where he worked for Antoine Baumé
. He travelled to Geneva
, where he met Aimé Argand
. In 1779, he returned to Paris and opened his own pharmacy
there.
.
He was interested in better lighting and, also in 1783, he improved on the Argand lamp
by adding a glass chimney. These lamps were sold under his own name and became known as Quinquet lamps in France.
He was also interested in magnetism
, mineralogy
and the formation of hail
stones.
In 1794, he became chief pharmacist at the National Hospital.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
who was born in Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
on 9th March 1745. In 1760 he was apprenticed to an apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
in Soissons and in 1777 he moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he worked for Antoine Baumé
Antoine Baumé
Antoine Baumé was a French chemist.He was born at Senlis. He was apprenticed to the chemist Claude Joseph Geoffroy, and in 1752 was admitted a member of the École de Pharmacie, where in the same year he was appointed professor of chemistry...
. He travelled to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, where he met Aimé Argand
Aimé Argand
François Pierre Ami Argand was a Swiss physicist and chemist. He invented the Argand lamp, a great improvement on the traditional oil lamp. -Early years:...
. In 1779, he returned to Paris and opened his own pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
there.
Other scientific interests
In 1783, he participated, with Aimé Argand, in the construction of a balloon which was presented to the King by Étienne MontgolfierMontgolfier brothers
Joseph-Michel Montgolfier and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier were the inventors of the montgolfière-style hot air balloon, globe aérostatique. The brothers succeeded in launching the first manned ascent, carrying Étienne into the sky...
.
He was interested in better lighting and, also in 1783, he improved on the Argand lamp
Argand lamp
The Argand lamp is home lighting oil lamp producing a light output of 6 to 10 candlepower which was invented and patented in 1780 by Aimé Argand...
by adding a glass chimney. These lamps were sold under his own name and became known as Quinquet lamps in France.
He was also interested in magnetism
Magnetism
Magnetism is a property of materials that respond at an atomic or subatomic level to an applied magnetic field. Ferromagnetism is the strongest and most familiar type of magnetism. It is responsible for the behavior of permanent magnets, which produce their own persistent magnetic fields, as well...
, mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and the formation of hail
Hail
Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hail stone. Hail stones on Earth consist mostly of water ice and measure between and in diameter, with the larger stones coming from severe thunderstorms...
stones.
In 1794, he became chief pharmacist at the National Hospital.
External links
- French Wikipedia article