Friedrich Wöhler (1800 to 1882)

Friedrich Wöhler (1800 to 1882) studied pharmacology and chemistry in Marburg and Heidelberg, where he completed his Doctorate in 1823. Following a research stay in Stockholm and teaching positions in Berlin and Kassel he was appointed professor at the University of Göttingen in 1836 as successor to Ernst August Strohmeyer. Under his leadership the Chemical Laboratory Göttingen became an internationally acclaimed research and study institution. Wöhler discovered pure aluminium and amongst other activities undertook research into the systematic of the chemical elements. Additionally he is considered a co-founder of Organic Chemistry: In 1828 he successfully synthesised urea; together with Justus Liebig he analysed bitter almond oil and benzoic acid. His most important works include the two-volume “Outline of Chemistry”, the “Annals of Chemistry and Pharmacology” jointly published with Liebig as well as the German edition of Berzelius’ “Textbook of Chemistry”.