Lewis Feuchtwanger
Encyclopedia
Lewis Feuchtwanger was a chemist
known primarily for his work on United States
coinage.
degree there in 1827, he came to the United States
in 1829, and settled in New York
, where he opened the first German
pharmacy
, and also practised medicine
, being particularly active during the cholera
epidemic of 1832.
Subsequently he devoted his entire attention to chemistry and mineralogy, and became engaged in the manufacture and sale of rare chemicals. He introduced in 1829 the alloy called German silver, and was the first to call the attention of the U. S. government to the availability and desirability of nickel
for small coins. In 1837 he issued, by permission of the U. S. government, a large quantity of one-cent pieces in nickel, and in 1864 he had struck off a number of three-cent pieces in the same metal, but they were not put into circulation.
After the great fire of 1846 he called the attention of the authorities of New York to the fact that saltpetre would explode under certain conditions. This statement created much discussion; the expression “Will saltpetre explode?” became a byword, and a play was acted at one of the theatres in which a character representing Feuchtwanger was presented.
He made two large collections of minerals, one of which he exhibited in London at the World's fair in 1851, and the other, which he bequeathed to his daughters, was for a time on exhibition at the Museum of Natural History
in Central Park, New York. Feuchtwanger was a member of scientific societies in this country and abroad, and contributed papers to Silliman's American Journal of Science and to the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
known primarily for his work on United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
coinage.
Biography
He was the son of a mineralogist, and inherited a taste for natural science, to which he devoted special attention at the University of Jena. After receiving his doctor of philosophyDoctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree there in 1827, he came to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1829, and settled in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he opened the first German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, and also practised medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, being particularly active during the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
epidemic of 1832.
Subsequently he devoted his entire attention to chemistry and mineralogy, and became engaged in the manufacture and sale of rare chemicals. He introduced in 1829 the alloy called German silver, and was the first to call the attention of the U. S. government to the availability and desirability of nickel
Nickel
Nickel is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile...
for small coins. In 1837 he issued, by permission of the U. S. government, a large quantity of one-cent pieces in nickel, and in 1864 he had struck off a number of three-cent pieces in the same metal, but they were not put into circulation.
After the great fire of 1846 he called the attention of the authorities of New York to the fact that saltpetre would explode under certain conditions. This statement created much discussion; the expression “Will saltpetre explode?” became a byword, and a play was acted at one of the theatres in which a character representing Feuchtwanger was presented.
He made two large collections of minerals, one of which he exhibited in London at the World's fair in 1851, and the other, which he bequeathed to his daughters, was for a time on exhibition at the Museum of Natural History
Museum of Natural History
A museum of natural history is a museum with exhibits about natural history, including such topics as animals, plants, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, and climatology. Some museums feature natural-history collections in addition to other collections, such as ones related to history, art and...
in Central Park, New York. Feuchtwanger was a member of scientific societies in this country and abroad, and contributed papers to Silliman's American Journal of Science and to the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Works
- Popular Treatise on Gems (New York, 1838)
- Elements of Mineralogy (1889)
- Treatise on Fermented Liquors (1858)
- Practical Treatise on Soluble or Water Glass (1870)
External links
- Biographical information at coinbooks.org