Alexander Marcet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Marcet
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Alexander Marcet, engraving by Henry Meyer after Sir Henry Raeburn.
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| Born | 1 August 1770 Geneva, Republic of Geneva
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| Died | 19 October 1822 Great Coram Street, London
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| Nationality | Genevan, British |
| Occupation | physician, chemist |
| Known for | Fellow of the Royal Society |
Alexander John Gaspard Marcet (born August 1, 1770 – died October 19, 1822) was a doctor and chemist. He was born in Geneva, which is now part of Switzerland. Later, he became a British citizen in 1800. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special group for important scientists. His wife, Jane Marcet, was a famous writer. She wrote many books called 'Conversations' about subjects like chemistry, botany, and money.
Contents
A Doctor's Life
Early Life and Education
Alexander Marcet was born in Geneva. He went to school there when he was young. In 1794, he moved to Scotland to study at the University of Edinburgh. He worked very hard and earned his medical degree (MD) on June 24, 1797. For his degree, he wrote a special paper, called a thesis, about diabetes.
A Busy Career
After finishing his studies, Marcet moved to London, England. He started working as a doctor at a place called Cary Street Dispensary. In 1799, he became a "licentiate" of the Royal College of Physicians. This meant he was officially allowed to practice medicine.
He then worked at Finsbury Dispensary. On April 18, 1804, he became a doctor at Guy's Hospital, which is a very famous hospital in London. From 1805 to 1819, he also taught chemistry there.
In 1809, Marcet helped at a temporary military hospital in Portsmouth. This hospital cared for soldiers who were sick after fighting in Walcheren.
Later Years
Alexander Marcet married Jane Haldimand, who became the well-known author Jane Marcet. As he became more successful and wealthy, he decided to do less medical work.
He left his job at Guy's Hospital on March 10, 1819. After that, he moved back to Geneva. There, he was given the special title of honorary professor of chemistry. He visited England again in 1821. He passed away in London on October 19, 1822. His grandson, William Marcet, also became a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Marcet's Discoveries and Writings
Alexander Marcet was not only a doctor but also a scientist who wrote about his findings.
In 1805, he wrote an essay called A Chemical Account of the Brighton Chalybeate. This was about the special chemical makeup of the water from Brighton's mineral springs. It was published in a book about mineral waters.
In 1815, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a great honor for scientists. He also published several papers about chemistry in the Philosophical Transactions. This was a very important science journal at the time.
In 1817, Marcet published a book called An Essay on the Chemical History and Medical Treatment of Calculous Disorders. In this book, he talked about kidney stones. He was one of the first to suggest that the pain from a kidney stone often happens when it moves. He also noted that a stone could grow in the kidney without causing much pain at first.
