Proust, Joseph Louis

Proust, Joseph Louis (Proust, Joseph-Louis) (1754-1826), French chemist. Born on 26 Septem 1754 in Angers in the family apothecary. He studied at the University of Paris. In 1775 he was appointed the manager of pharmacy Salpetriere Hospital. In 1777 received an invitation to the department of chemistry and metallurgy has recently founded the Royal Seminary of Vergara (Spain). In 1785, King Charles III of Spain, invited Proust, a professor of chemistry at the artillery school in Segovia. Later Proust headed the department of chemistry at the universities of Salamanca (1789) and Madrid (1791-1808). He organized a laboratory, assembled a valuable collection of minerals and chemicals. In 1808, during the invasion of Napoleon's troops in Madrid, laboratory Proust in his collection were killed, and Proust returned to France. In 1816 the scientist was elected member of the Paris Academy of Sciences.
In Spain, Proust was researching the properties and composition of compounds of various metals - tin, copper, iron, nickel, etc.. Demonstrated that many compounds are not oxides and hydroxides; first proposed the term 'hydrate'. The study of various metal oxides, chlorides and sulphides them (1797-1809) served as the basis for the discovery of the law of constancy of the chemical compounds (1806). Proust's opponent made his compatriot - a famous chemist Berthollet K.. Stubborn scientists debate lasted from 1801 to 1808 and ended in favor of Proust.

Proust died in Angers July 5, 1826.