Gabriel François Venel (23 August 1723,

Tourbes Tourbes (; oc, Torbes) is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Geography Climate Tourbes has a mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification ''Csa''). The average annual temperature in Tourbes ...

– 29 October 1775,

Pézenas Pézenas (; Languedocien: ''Pesenàs'') is a commune in the Hérault department in the Occitanie region in southern France. Name The name "Pézenas" is derived from the older name ''Piscenae'', probably from the Latin word ''piscenis'', meaning fi ...

) was a French

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe th ...

, physician and a contributor to the ''

Encyclopédie ''Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des arts et des métiers'' (English: ''Encyclopedia, or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts''), better known as ''Encyclopédie'', was a general encyclopedia publis ...

'', (673 items;Sociétés savantes de France
Louis Dulieu, Gabriel-François Venel. : Bulletin de l'Académie des Sciences et Lettres de Montpellier, nouvelle série, III, 1972, p. 123-135. articles on

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

pharmacy Pharmacy is the science and practice of discovering, producing, preparing, dispensing, reviewing and monitoring medications, aiming to ensure the safe, effective, and affordable use of medicines. It is a miscellaneous science as it links heal ...

physiology Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical ...

and medicine).

Biography and Works

He is the son of Étienne Venel, physician and Anne Hiché, and was born in

in 1723.Smeaton, W. A., Venel, Gabriel François, 'Complete Dictionary of Scientific Biography',Encyclopedia.com. 29 Dec. 201

/ref> In 1742 he obtained his doctorate in medicine from the

University of Montpellier The University of Montpellier (french: Université de Montpellier) is a public university, public research university located in Montpellier, in south-east of France. Established in 1220, the University of Montpellier is one of the oldest univ ...

. He also attended the public courses in chemistry given by Rouelle in Paris, which confirmed his main interest in chemistry. Venel later on talked very highly of his professor, including in his famous article Chymie written for the

. As ''inspecteur général des eaux minérales'', with

Pierre Bayen Pierre Bayen (7 February 1725–14 February 1798) was a French chemist. He analyzed water drunk by the Kingdom of France, and he wrongly suggested that using pewter glasses rendered the water toxic. He became a member of the French Academy of ...

(1725–1798), he was tasked in 1753 to provide analysis of French

mineral water Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. Mineral water may usually be still or sparkling (carbonated/effervescent) according to the presence or absence of added gases. Tra ...

s. In 1768 he became a member of the ''Société royale des sciences de Montpellier''. In 1759 he obtained the chair of materia medica at the University of Montpellier.Dictionnaire historique de la médecine ancienne et moderne, Volume 4
by Jean Eugene Dezeimeris In parallel, he also gave a course in chemistry outside of the University, in which he taught about the vegetal, mineral and animal chemistry. The practical demonstrations were performed by Jacques Montet. While often interpreted as an early chemist and Enlightenment thinker, Venel may have been influenced by

Alchemy Alchemy (from Arabic: ''al-kīmiyā''; from Ancient Greek: χυμεία, ''khumeía'') is an ancient branch of natural philosophy, a philosophical and protoscientific tradition that was historically practiced in China, India, the Muslim world, ...

and

Iatrochemistry Iatrochemistry (; also known as chemiatria or chemical medicine) is a branch of both chemistry and medicine. Having its roots in alchemy, iatrochemistry seeks to provide chemical solutions to diseases and medical ailments. This area of science h ...

. In his entry on chemistry in the ''Encyclopédie'', he explicitly calls for a "New

Paracelsus Paracelsus (; ; 1493 – 24 September 1541), born Theophrastus von Hohenheim (full name Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim), was a Swiss physician, alchemist, lay theologian, and philosopher of the German Renaissance. He w ...

" to further develop the field. His work on mineral waters was interrupted in 1756 due to the cost of the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

, but funds were gathered again in 1773, and Venel thus resumed his work and travels to analyse waters. His manuscript remained however unfinished. He died due to illness in 1775.

Selected works

* ''Mémoire sur l'analyse des eaux de selters ou de seltz'', 1755. * ''Essai sur l'analyse des végétaux'', 1755. * ''Analyses chimiques des nouvelles eaux nimérales, vitrioliques, ferrugineuses, decouvertes à Passy dans la maison de Madame de Calsabigi'', 1757. * "Quaestiones chemicae duodecim ab illustrissimis viris ... propositae ... : pro Regiâ Cathedrâ vacante in Universitate Medicinae Monspeliensi", 1759. * ''Instructions sur l'usage de la houille'', 1775. * ''Précis de matiere médicale'', 1787. * Books about Gabriel François Venel: * ''Gabriel-François Venel (1723-1775): sa place dans la chimie française du XVIIIe siècle'', by Christine Lecornu Lehman, Université de Paris X: Nanterre, 2000 (1404 pages).Google Books
Gabriel-François Venel (1723-1775): sa place dans la chimie française du XVIIIe siècle

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venel, Gabriel Francois 1723 births 1775 deaths 18th-century French chemists 18th-century French physicians People from Hérault Contributors to the Encyclopédie (1751–1772) University of Montpellier alumni University of Montpellier faculty French male non-fiction writers 18th-century French male writers