Friedrich Wöhler / [Frederick Belding Power].

  • Power, Frederick B. (Frederick Belding), 1853-1927.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Friedrich Wöhler / [Frederick Belding Power]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    u Any one who has studied chemistry under the direction of Leopold Gmelin has very little to learn from me; nevertheless I cannot forego the pleasure of making your personal acquaintance, and will therefore cheerfully accept you as the companion of my labors. You can come whenever it is agreeable to you. * * * * * * * * ” This letter was introductory to a long and interesting correspondence, which was carried on until the death of Berzelius in 1848. It would seem worthy of note that the first scientific paper of Berzelius was published in the same year in which Wohler was born. The journey to Sweden was at once undertaken, but neither time nor space will admit of reciting here the many incidents con¬ nected with his residence of nearly a year with Ber¬ zelius, which he has himself so graphically portray¬ ed, and which he delighted to relate to his pupils in after years as one of the brightest periods in his historv. In September, 1824, Wohler took leave of Ber¬ zelius and returned to the Continent, and as soon afterward decided to apply for the position of do¬ cent at the University of Heidelberg. While pre¬ paring to habilitate himself at the University he enjoyed the intimate friendship of Dr. Buch, and ; at this time also undertook the translation of Ber¬ zelius, u Jahresbericht,” which Christian Gmelin, of Tubingen, Berzelius’ first pupil, had transferred to him, as he was himself no longer able to continue it. It was while thus engaged in 1824, that Wbhler first made the acquaintanceof his life-long friend and co-laborer, Justus von Liebig. The meeting of these two men was at Frankfort, Liebig being at that time not yet twenty-one, and Wohler only twenty-four years of age, yet they had both already become renowned for their important discoveries. The friendship which was then formed became only the more firmly cemented with each succeeding year, while the character of the accumulated correspon¬ dence which passed between them affords the best testimony of their mutual respect and affection. In the winter of 1824-25, Wohler’s career took an unexpected turn, and instead of locating in Heidel-