Brongniart, Alexandre

(1770-1847)

   mineralogist, geologist

   Born in Paris, Alexandre Brongniart was one of the principal founders of stratographic paleontology (Sur les caractères zoologiques de formations, 1821). He defined the secondary Jurassic system and introduced systematically the idea of structure and texture in the description of boulders. Brongniart studied under antoine laurent de lavoisier and later graduated from the École de Medicine in Paris. In 1797, he was appointed professor at the École de Quatres Nations, and in 1822 became professor of mineralogy at the Museum of Natural History. His interest in geology and paleontology led to a long and successful collaboration with georges cuvier (Essai sur la géographie minéralogique des environs de Paris (1811). In 1800, he was appointed director of the sèvres porcelain factory (1800-47), where with his assistants he laid the foundation for the modern knowledge of ceramic chemistry and revived the forgotten art of painting on glass. He also established there a museum of ceramics (1824) and is the author of Traité des arts céramiques (1842). Brongniart was named to the Academy of Sciences in 1815.