Caspar Neumann (chemist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caspar Neumann
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| Born | July 11, 1683 Zullichau, Germany now Sulechów, Poland
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| Died | October 20, 1737 (aged 54) |
| Occupation | Chemist and Apothecary |
| Spouse(s) | Cornelia Maria |
| Children | Stepson: Johann Caspar Conradi |
| Parent(s) | Georg Neumann Rosina Weichert |
Caspar Neumann (born July 11, 1683 – died October 20, 1737) was a clever German chemist and apothecary. An apothecary was like a pharmacist and chemist all rolled into one! He discovered many things and traveled a lot to learn about chemicals and medicines.
Contents
About Caspar Neumann
Early Life and Learning
Caspar Neumann was born on July 11, 1683, in a place called Zullichau. This town is now known as Sulechów and is in Poland. When he was young, his father taught him about music.
Sadly, when Caspar was only 12 years old, both his parents passed away. After that, he went to live with his godfather, Johannes Romke. His godfather was an apothecary, and Caspar became his apprentice. This meant he learned the apothecary trade from him.
In 1701, Caspar finished his training. He then started working as an apothecary in a town called Kargowa, in Poland.
His Career and Travels
After working in Kargowa for three years, Caspar moved to Berlin in 1704. He first worked in an apothecary shop there. Soon, he became a special traveling apothecary for the king of Prussia, Frederick I. He traveled with the king until 1711.
King Frederick then sent Caspar on an important trip. He wanted Caspar to travel across Europe to learn even more about chemistry and pharmacy. This was a great chance for Caspar to expand his knowledge!
Learning in England
In 1713, while Caspar was in England, he heard some sad news. His royal patron, King Frederick, had died. This meant his special trip was over. For the next three years, Caspar found work in London. He worked with a famous Dutch surgeon named Abraham Cyprianus.
During this time, Caspar met many important scientists. These included Isaac Newton, who discovered gravity, and Hans Sloane. Both were members of the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists.
Returning to Germany
In 1716, Caspar briefly returned to Germany. He traveled with George I, who was also a king. When he got back to Berlin, he made new connections. These connections helped him get a very important job.
In 1719, after finishing his European travels, he became the Royal Court Apothecary. This meant he was the main chemist and pharmacist for the royal family! He kept this job for the rest of his life. In 1726, he was also chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This was a big honor for a scientist.
In 2009, a scientist named Alexander Kraft found out something interesting. It was Caspar Neumann who shared the secret recipe for making Prussian blue with the Royal Society in England in 1723. Prussian blue was the first man-made blue color!
What Caspar Neumann Was Known For
Caspar Neumann was known for many things in chemistry:
- He tried to clearly describe what different substances were like. He looked at things like how heavy they were (density) and when they would melt (melting point).
- He helped organize how different types of salts were named.
- He discovered the crystal form of a substance called thymol.
- He did important work on things like alcohol, amber, a tree sap called benzoin resin, and cinnamic acid.
- He supported the phlogiston theory. This was an early idea about how things burn. Scientists later found out it wasn't quite right, but it was an important step in understanding chemistry.
