Giovanni Francisco Vigani
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Francisco Vigani (c. 1650–1712), known also as John Francis, was an Italian chemist who became the first professor of chemistry
in the University of Cambridge
.
about the middle of the seventeenth century. He travelled in Spain, France, and Holland, and studied mining, metallurgy, and pharmacy in the countries he visited. He is not known to have held any recognised qualification. In 1682 he published a small treatise, entitled Medulla Chymiæ. It was dedicated to a Dutchman, Joannes de Waal, and was printed and published at Danzig. During this year he probably arrived in England, first settling in Newark-on-Trent
. About 1683 he took up his residence at Cambridge, and began to give private tuition in chemistry and pharmacy. In 1692 he was invited to write a treatise on chemistry but it was never completed. By this time he had become an acknowledged teacher of the subject in Cambridge, and, though still independent of university support, had acquired a reputation.
In 1703 he was appointed honorary professor of chemistry at Cambridge: a grace passed the university senate for ‘investing with the title of professor of chemistry John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, who had taught chemistry with reputation in Cambridge for twenty years previously.’ In 1705 he was lecturing on pharmaceutical chemistry at Queens' College, Cambridge
. According to controversial pamphlets about Richard Bentley
's actions as master of Trinity College, Cambridge
it is likely that Vigani, as newly created professor, gave instruction in the laboratory which had been constructed there by the master, against the wishes of the senior fellows. During all these years Vigani spent part of his time in Newark. He was buried there in February 1712. The vacancy in the professorship which was occasioned by his death was filled in 1713 by the appointment of John Waller, B.D.
Vigan, in the disputes in which Bentley was involved, remained on good terms with both sides. He never seems to have mastered the English language. According to Abraham de la Pryme
, who attended his lectures, Vigani was a great traveller and a learned chemist, but a ‘drunken fellow.’ In one of his letters, however, Vigani emphasises the benefits of a temperate life. He married, about 1682, shortly after his arrival in England. A daughter Frances was baptised there in January 1683; another, Jane, in March 1684. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, died at Newark at the close of 1711.
for his practical skill and avoidance of speculation unsupported by experiment. He rather avoided theoretical discussions, referring those who felt interested in them to Robert Boyle
, while he himself pursued practical investigation. Among other things, Vigani devised a method for purifying iron sulphate from copper; for making ammonium sulphate; and for proving that to form a given salt a metallic base
takes always the same amount of acid. He also invented a furnace that could be easily built up or taken to pieces as required.
BP Professor of Organic Chemistry
The BP Professorship of Organic Chemistry is one of the senior professorships at the University of Cambridge.Founded in 1702 by the university as simply 'Professor of Chemistry', it was retitled as the Professorship of Organic Chemistry in 1943, and in 1991 was renamed after a benefaction from the...
in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Life
He was born at VeronaVerona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
about the middle of the seventeenth century. He travelled in Spain, France, and Holland, and studied mining, metallurgy, and pharmacy in the countries he visited. He is not known to have held any recognised qualification. In 1682 he published a small treatise, entitled Medulla Chymiæ. It was dedicated to a Dutchman, Joannes de Waal, and was printed and published at Danzig. During this year he probably arrived in England, first settling in Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
. About 1683 he took up his residence at Cambridge, and began to give private tuition in chemistry and pharmacy. In 1692 he was invited to write a treatise on chemistry but it was never completed. By this time he had become an acknowledged teacher of the subject in Cambridge, and, though still independent of university support, had acquired a reputation.
In 1703 he was appointed honorary professor of chemistry at Cambridge: a grace passed the university senate for ‘investing with the title of professor of chemistry John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, who had taught chemistry with reputation in Cambridge for twenty years previously.’ In 1705 he was lecturing on pharmaceutical chemistry at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
. According to controversial pamphlets about Richard Bentley
Richard Bentley
Richard Bentley was an English classical scholar, critic, and theologian. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge....
's actions as master of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
it is likely that Vigani, as newly created professor, gave instruction in the laboratory which had been constructed there by the master, against the wishes of the senior fellows. During all these years Vigani spent part of his time in Newark. He was buried there in February 1712. The vacancy in the professorship which was occasioned by his death was filled in 1713 by the appointment of John Waller, B.D.
Vigan, in the disputes in which Bentley was involved, remained on good terms with both sides. He never seems to have mastered the English language. According to Abraham de la Pryme
Abraham de la Pryme
Abraham de la Pryme was an English antiquary.Abraham de la Pryme was born to Huguenot parents, Matthias de la Pryme and Sarah Smague at Hatfield in 1671...
, who attended his lectures, Vigani was a great traveller and a learned chemist, but a ‘drunken fellow.’ In one of his letters, however, Vigani emphasises the benefits of a temperate life. He married, about 1682, shortly after his arrival in England. A daughter Frances was baptised there in January 1683; another, Jane, in March 1684. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, died at Newark at the close of 1711.
Works
The treatise Medulla Chymiæ was originally of 19 pages (Danzig, 1682). It was considerably enlarged, and editions appeared in 1683, 1685, 1693, and 1718–19. As the author explains, it was intended to record his own experiments and improvements in the preparation of certain compounds. Vigani was commended by Georg Ernst StahlGeorg Ernst Stahl
Georg Ernst Stahl was a German chemist and physician.He was born at Ansbach. Having graduated in medicine at the University of Jena in 1683, he became court physician to Duke Johann Ernst of Sachsen Weimar in 1687...
for his practical skill and avoidance of speculation unsupported by experiment. He rather avoided theoretical discussions, referring those who felt interested in them to Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle
Robert Boyle FRS was a 17th century natural philosopher, chemist, physicist, and inventor, also noted for his writings in theology. He has been variously described as English, Irish, or Anglo-Irish, his father having come to Ireland from England during the time of the English plantations of...
, while he himself pursued practical investigation. Among other things, Vigani devised a method for purifying iron sulphate from copper; for making ammonium sulphate; and for proving that to form a given salt a metallic base
Base (chemistry)
For the term in genetics, see base A base in chemistry is a substance that can accept hydrogen ions or more generally, donate electron pairs. A soluble base is referred to as an alkali if it contains and releases hydroxide ions quantitatively...
takes always the same amount of acid. He also invented a furnace that could be easily built up or taken to pieces as required.