Richard Chenevix (chemist) facts for kids
Richard Chenevix (born around 1774 – died April 5, 1830) was an Irish scientist. He was a chemist, who studied minerals, and also wrote plays. He was known for being very direct and sometimes critical in his opinions.
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Early Life and Family Background
Richard Chenevix was born in Ballycommon, County Offaly, in Ireland. His parents were Elizabeth Arabin and Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Chenevix. His family had come from France a long time ago. They were Protestants who left France because of religious difficulties.
His great-uncle, also named Richard Chenevix, was an important church leader. Richard Chenevix later married Countess Jeanne Francoise de Rouault in 1812.
Education and Early Studies
Richard Chenevix started studying at Glasgow University in 1785. He didn't finish his degree there, but he did earn a degree from the University of Dublin.
A Career in Science
After finishing his studies, Chenevix moved to Paris, France. He was held in prison for about 15 months during a difficult time in French history. While he was in prison, he met other scientists who sparked his interest in chemistry.
After being released, he studied chemistry at different schools in Paris. In 1798, he wrote his first scientific paper. He then published many reports about different chemicals and minerals. Because of this important work, he became a member of the Royal Society in 1801. The Royal Society is a famous group for scientists in England.
The Palladium Discovery
In 1803, Chenevix published a paper about a new metal called palladium. Another scientist, William Hyde Wollaston, had found palladium the year before. Chenevix believed that palladium was not a new element. He thought it was just a mix of mercury and platinum. For his work, he was given the Copley Medal, a very important science award.
However, Wollaston later showed that palladium was indeed a new element. Chenevix had made a mistake in his experiment. Even though he was wrong, Chenevix and Wollaston remained friendly. This event shows how science works: ideas are tested, and sometimes mistakes help lead to new discoveries.
Chenevix continued his scientific work. He wrote about how to classify minerals and how to make a chemical called acetone. He was a member of several science groups across Europe.
Exploring the Mind: Phrenology and Mesmerism
Richard Chenevix was also interested in how the mind works.
Phrenology Studies
In 1807, he learned about phrenology in Paris. Phrenology was a popular idea at the time. It suggested that you could learn about a person's personality and abilities by feeling the bumps on their head. Chenevix wrote a review about phrenology in 1828.
Mesmerism and Hypnosis
Chenevix also became interested in mesmerism, which is an early form of hypnosis. He started practicing it in Ireland in 1828. He wrote many papers about his experiences with mesmerism. In 1829, he gave talks and demonstrations about it in London. Many important doctors attended his lectures.
His Published Works
Chenevix wrote a variety of works, including plays and scientific papers.
- 1802: Dramatic Poems: Leonora, a Tragedy; and Etha and Aidallo, a Dramatic Poem
- 1812: Two Plays: Mantuan Revels, a Comedy, in Five Acts; Henry the Seventh, an Historical Tragedy, in Five Acts
- 1828: "Gall and Spurzheim — Phrenology", a review in The Foreign Quarterly Review.
- 1829: "On Mesmerism, Improperly Denominated Animal Magnetism", a series of papers in the London Medical and Physical Journal.
- 1830: Phrenology Article of the Foreign Quarterly Review, by Rich. Chenevix, Esq., F.R.S., &c., With Notes from G. Spurzheim, M.D.
- 1832: An Essay Upon National Character: Being an Inquiry into Some of the Principal Causes Which Contribute to Form and Modify the Characters of Nations in the State of Civilisation, in Two Volumes.
Death
Richard Chenevix passed away in Paris on April 5, 1830. He was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.
Legacy
A mineral called Chenevixite was named after him. This was done to honor his earlier work studying copper ferrate arsenates.
