Aspects of the scientific network and communication of John Hyacinth de Magellan in Britain, Flanders and France.
The subject of gases was on the agenda of many learned scientific gentlemen in the second half of the eighteenth century. This was not only because of the extraordinary account that had been given as to the physical and chemical composition of the third state of matter, but also, and perhaps mainly, because of the extraordinary properties that at least one of these gases seemed to offer for food preservation, the medicinal properties of natural waters and medical applications. These putative practical applications were highly sought after by society at the time, particularly for long-distance sea journeys. This paper focuses on the Portuguese polymath João Jacinto de Magalhães (1722-1790), also known as John Hyacinth de Magellan. It shows some specific aspects of his activities as a disseminator of Priestley's discoveries on pneumatics, mainly in Flanders, Holland and France, and through his large network of scientific correspondents.
Malaquias
Isabel
I
Departamento de Física, CIDTFF, Universidade de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal. imalaquias@ua.pt
D002621:Chemistry / Q000266:history*; D015709:Correspondence as Topic / Q000266:history*; D005602:France; D005740:Gases / Q000266:history; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006113:United Kingdom
D005740:Gases