Ernst von Meyer (1847-1916) RALPH E. OESPER University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio SURVEY of the general histories of chemistry re- sent on a mission to Paris and took the boy with him so veals that strikingly few have appeared. Fur- that he might secure a good foundation in the French thermore, the additions to the list are becoming in- language and culture. About this time von Humcreasingly rare. What the future will bring is problem- boldt's books fell into his hands; they were devoured atical, but in all likelihood there will never be another with boyish enthusiasm. He resolved that he too work comparable in scope to Kopp's "Geschichte der would become a great scientific traveler. When his Chemie." The material is broadening and lengthen- father was sent to Frankfurt a. M. he again was taken ing too rapidly; its bulk has become too great to be along. Here he heard Kohlrausch's lectures on physmastered by anyone except a near-genius. Probably ics and these strengthened his determination to make the subject matter will have to be treated in sections science his life-work. Von Meyer entered the University of Leipzig in 1866. by specialists. It must also be remembered that history of chemistry is actively prosecuted by few chem- He soon decided to become a chemist. The dominant factor in this choice was Kolbe, who was a t the height ists and then only as an avocation.' Among the late works that can rightfully be con- of his powers. The student and the eminent professor sidered to be fairly complete is von Meyer's "History became well acquainted because Mrs. Kolbe was reof Chemistry, from the earliest times to the present." lated to the von Meyers, and Ernst was a welcome guest The 6rst edition (466 pages) appeared in 1888, the third in the Kolbe home, where he and the nine-year-old (616 pages) in 1914. The English translation, by the Johanna frequently played duets. Excellent as Kolbe's author's student, George McGowan, went through five lectures were, he believed that really effective chemical editions. Mendeleeff put out a Russian translation; teaching could be done only in the laboratory. He did not permit the students to use printed schemes of the Italian translation was made by Gina. In his autobiography' von Meyer tells that his long- qualitative analysis. They received oral instructions, contemplated plan to write a history of chemistry was and after carrying out the reactions were required to translated into action by the necessity of finding relief construct their own tables on the basis of the observafrom his grief over the death of his little son. In 1914, tions. Kolbe was insistent that the students undernear the close of his life he wrote: "I wish once more stand what they were doing and they were few enough to stress the debt I owe to historical studies. They so that he could quiz them personally quite often, force one to enter deeply into the line of thought of though naturally his assistants did the bulk of the labogreat investigators. Most of the hypotheses invented ratory instruction. Kolbe had been Bunsen's assistant a t Marburg; by such men to explain or connect chemical facts have only a transient existence in the structure of he admired him: thev were close friends. After von chemical thought. But a portion of such ideas sur- Meyer had spent th;ee semesters a t Leipzig, Kolbe vives almost invariably, particularly if they have advised him to transfer to Heidelberg to get the beneevolved out of earlier views and have been developed fits of a t least one semester under Bunsen. Here he in connection with them . . I am probably not far progressed in quantitative analysis and learned Bunwrong when I assume that any scientific honors that sen's specialties: flame reactions and glass working. have come to me are due mostly to my activities in the He also attended Kopp's lectures on the history of field of the history of chemistry." Time has shown chemistry. "Though they were as dry as his book, this estimate to be correct. Von Meyer is remem- whose contents are so outstanding, they none the less bered now for his "History of Chemistry," rather than stimulated me and contributed considerably to fosterbecause he was a good teacher, a fairly successful or- ine -mv,interest in the develoument of this science." After a year of compulsory military training (artilganic chemist, an efficient editor, and author of monolery), von Meyer returned to Leipzig with his mind graphs on technical chemistry. Emst von Meyer was born 011 August 25, 1847, a t made up to go into organic chemistry. The lectures Cassel. For many generations the men of his family of Graebe were in great contrast to those of Kolbe, who had been jurists, civil servants, and clergymen. His still adhered to the Berzelian dualistic viewpoint and father was an important official in the service of the the theory of radicals while the young dozmt presented Elector. The boy early showed a good mental en- the "modem Kekul6 doctrines." "This twofold treatdowment; also his excellent talents on the violin were ment was of tremendous advantage to me. I thus fostered by competent instruction. His father was learned the exact course of the development of theoretical chemistry since the time of Berzelius,andso could Sec Buoos, Tms JOURNAL, 9, 1567 (1932). easily read the earlier papers and books with their a VON MEYER,"Lebense~innemnpen,"Leipzig, 1918. 107
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strange formulas, which most chemists of today find lovinn, did aU he could to brinn Kolbe to use a milder eithe;impossible or quite difficult to follow. . . ~ o l b e tone,&d acrimonious debates enlivened their editorial once said: 'It is greatly to be desired that the chemical conferences. When Kolbe's health began to fail, he youth of today devote themselves sympathetically delegated more and more of his duties to von Meyerand without preconceived opinions to the study of the not only his lectures, but also the business management development of chemistry' because, as Goethe wrote: of the department. Even the doctorate candidates "The history of a science is the science itself.'' On were sent to him for advice. Consequently, van Meyer his advice I read the classic papers of Berzelius, Liebig, had a potent influence in the development of such men and Bunsen. He considered Bunsen's style the best of as Beckmann, Curtius, Ost. aU the German chemists." Kolbe died in November, 1884, and von Meyer was In July, 1870, van Meyer was called to the colors. made temporary head of the laboratory. He also took He served through the Franco-Pmssian war, and was over the editorship of the Journal fur praktische Chemie. awarded the Iron Cross, second class, for distinguished largely as a tribute to Kolbe's memory. The prestige service under fire. He returned to Leipzig in April, of this periodical had suffered greatly because of Kolbe's 1871. Kolbe, an expert on Bunsen's methods of gas intolerance of the newer schools of thought. Van Meyer analysis, taught van Meyer this technique. His doc- nursed it back to health. Through this position, which toral dissertation on the gases enclosed in coals was ac- he held until his death, he came into close contact with cepted in 1872. most of the prominent chemists of the day. Kolbe's successor was appointed in 1887. It was none other than Wislicenus, whom Kolbe had castigated, particularly for his championship of van't Hoff's views on stereochemistry. Naturally, Wislicenus was anxious to remove all reminders of the Kolbe regime, and after three semesters van Meyer and his colleague, Weddige, resigned. They opened a private teaching laboratory nearby; it prospered despite the covert opposition of Wislicenus. Excellent research came out of this modest establishment, which in 1887 had places for seven students and in 1894, when it closed, for twenty-nine. In the organic field, von Meyer's chief successes were with the cyanalkines. He also discovered and studied extensively the dinitriles. In 1892 he was a delegate to the Geneva conference on the reform of the IN KOLBR'SLABORATORY, LEIPZTG nomenclature of organic chemistry. He collaborated In its time, this was considered one of the finest teaching with Kolbe in studies on the applications of salicylic laboratories in the world. acid, especially as a food preservative and in mediane. Kolbe offered the young Ph.D. an assistantship and For about nine months, they ingested one grain per day thus solved the difficult question: "academic or indus- to demonstrate the harmlessness of this compound, trial career?" In 1874, von Meyer qualified as $rival whose synthesis has done much to keep the name Kolbe dozent; his habilitation lecture was entitled, "The origins in the modem textbooks. Increased use of salicylic of the chemical atomic theory." His first independent acid made its production a profitable business; Kolbe, lecture course, "Chemical Theories," dealt with their and later his family, derived an excellent income from genesis and significance. He also lectured on indus- the factory that was commercializinghis discovery. trial chemistry. His first book was "Fireworks and Von Meyer was not entirely happy in his anomalous Explosives." In 1876 he married Johanna Kolbe. position and in 1893 without hesitation, accepted a call A revision and completion of Kolbe's large text on to the chair of organic chemistry in the technical uniorganic chemistry was largely von Meyer's product. versity a t Dresden. This last chapter in his life was a He also aided his father-in-law in editing the Journal pleasant one, but his activities were mostly confined to fur praktisch,e Chemie, a thorny task. Kolbe had an internal educational affairs. However, he and his obsession for the truth as he saw it. He would not student (later assistant) Lottermoser studied the beaccept the type and structural theories; he firmly be- havior of colloidal silver. From this work came the lieved that the teachings of Kekul6, Baeyer, Wurtz, brilliant idea of using it (Collargol) in the treatment of etc., were threatening to destroy the "true" chemistry. septic diseases. A further development was the openHe scaldingly attacked the proponents of the newer ing of the important field of protective colloids. views and earned their hostility. Von Meyer, peaceEmst von Meyer died at Dresden on April 11, 1916.
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Ernst von Meyer (1847-1916) (See page 107)
