Antoine Lavoisier

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier (August 26 1743 – May 8 1794) was a French nobleman prominent in the histories of chemistry, finance, biology, and economics. He stated the first version of the Law of Conservation of Matter, recognized and named oxygen (1778), disproved the phlogiston theory, and helped to reform chemical nomenclature. Lavoisier is often referred to as the father of modern chemistry. He was also an investor and administrator of the Ferme Générale, a private tax collection company; chairman of the board of the Discount Bank (later the Banque de France); and a powerful member of a number of other aristocratic administrative councils. Due to his prominence in the pre-revolutionary government in France, he was beheaded at the height of the French Revolution.

External links

• A virtual museum of Antoine Lavoisier
• The Complete Works of Lavoisier
• Does the head remain briefly conscious after decapitation? from The Straight Dope, references Lavoisier's execution
• Antoine Lavoisier, Chemical Achievers profile