Abstract
A Very interesting episode took place at the séance of the French Academy of Sciences of September 2, on the occasion of what may be regarded as the academic jubilee of the Dean, the famous chemist, M. Chevreul. The fiftieth year of his membership does not strictly occur till 1876; but it is well known that he would have been elected in 1816, had he not urged the Academy to give the vacant place to M. Proust, his compatriot, and a celebrated chemist, who was old and infirm, and could not afford -to wait. M. Faye, as president of the Academy, intimated that the members had resolved, as a token of their estimate of his works, and their regard for his personal character, to present the venerable Dean that day with a medal, without waiting for the arrival of the formal jubilee. The medal represents the features of the illustrious chemist, who bears the weight of his 86 years much more lightly than many of his fellows who are considerably younger than himself. M. Dumas, the celebrated chemist, and permanent secretary of the Academy, in an eloquenc and gracefully-worded speech, recounted the many valuable services rendered by M. Chevreul, who modestly styles himself “le doyen des étudiants français,” and at the same time bore warm testimony to the personal character of the man. After M. Elie de Beaumont, who had been a pupil of M. Chevreul, had added a few words of veneration and respect for his old master, the latter attempted to respond, but had simply to express his inability to do so. It was in 1806 that M. Chevreul published his first most important work. He was collaborator of Vanquehn: and he has just completed a volume, entitled “Mémoires de l'Académic,” a most interesting work, which throws light upon many of the most scientific questions of the day. M. Chevreul is one of the most distinguished chemists of the age; and, besides being Dean of the Academy of Sciences, is Director of the Museum of Natural History at the Jardin des Plantes. He has chosen for his motto that beautiful maxim of Malebranche, which indeed affords a true key to his life, his works, and his discoveries, “Chercher toujours l'infaillibilité, sans avoir la prétention de Patteindre jamais.“
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M. Chevreul . Nature 6, 420 (1872). https://doi.org/10.1038/006420a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/006420a0