August Dupré facts for kids
August Dupré (1835–1907) was an important German chemist who later became a British citizen. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very respected group of scientists.
Life Story
August Dupré was born in Mainz, Germany, on September 6, 1835. His father was a merchant from Frankfurt with a Huguenot background. When August was young, his family moved around a bit, living in London and Warrington in the UK, before returning to Giessen, Germany. He went to school in Giessen and Darmstadt.
In 1852, at age 17, August started studying chemistry at the University of Giessen. He studied with famous chemists like Justus Liebig and Heinrich Will. His brother, Friedrich Wilhelm, also studied with him. In 1854, both brothers moved to Heidelberg University to continue their studies with other well-known scientists, Robert Bunsen and Gustav Kirchhoff. August earned his doctorate degree from Heidelberg in 1855.
After finishing their studies, August and Friedrich moved to London. August worked as an assistant at Guy's Hospital medical school. Later, he took over his brother's job as a lecturer in chemistry and toxicology at Westminster Hospital medical school, a position he held until 1897. In 1866, he became a British citizen. He also taught toxicology at the London School of Medicine for Women and worked as a public analyst for the city of Westminster.
August Dupré was a member of many important scientific groups. He joined the Chemical Society in 1860. He was also the president of the Society of Public Analysts and a founding member of the Institute of Chemistry. In 1875, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a great honor for a scientist.
August Dupré passed away at his home in Sutton, Surrey, on July 15, 1907. He was buried nearby in Benhilton.
Important Work
August Dupré did a lot of important work for the government. In 1871, he became a chemical expert for the Local Government Board. He investigated potable water (drinking water) and how rivers could become polluted and then clean themselves.
He also worked with other chemists to study the condition of the River Thames and how to treat sewage. His work helped connect the idea of bacterial theory (how tiny germs affect things) with public health. This was very important for improving sanitation.
Dupré was also involved in research about explosives. From 1873, he was a consulting chemist for the explosives department of the Home Office. He helped examine new and imported explosives for over 36 years. He also studied dangerous explosives that were used in attacks, helping to understand how they were made.
The government often asked for Dupré's expert opinion on chemistry matters. He frequently used his scientific knowledge to help in court cases, especially those involving chemicals.
Discoveries and Books
August Dupré made some interesting scientific discoveries. Working with William Odling, he found that copper is present almost everywhere in plants and animals. He was also the first to notice, with Henry Bence Jones, that certain substances called "ptomaines" form when animal matter breaks down.
Dupré also wrote books. He co-authored On the Origin, Nature, and Varieties of Wine (1872) with Johann Ludwig Wilhelm Thudichum. He also wrote A Short Manual of Inorganic Chemistry (1886) with Henry Wilson Hake, which was updated several times. He published many scientific papers in various journals, often working with other scientists.
Family Life
In 1876, August Dupré married Florence Marie Robberds. They had four sons and one daughter.
