Marcellin Berthelot

Pierre Eugène Marcellin Berthelot (French:

[bɛʁtəlo]; 25 October 1827[1] – 18 March 1907) was a Marcellin Berthelot
French chemist and Republican politician noted for the
Thomsen–Berthelot principle of thermochemistry. He
synthesized many organic compounds from inorganic
substances,[2] providing a large amount of counter-
evidence to the theory of Jöns Jakob Berzelius that
organic compounds required organisms in their
synthesis. Berthelot was convinced that chemical
synthesis would revolutionize the food industry by the
year 2000, and that synthesized foods would replace
farms and pastures. "Why not", he asked, "if it proved
cheaper and better to make the same materials than to
grow them?"[2][3]

He was considered "one of the most famous chemists Born Pierre Eugène Marcellin Berthelot
in the world."[3] Upon being appointed to the post of 25 October 1827
Minister of Foreign Affairs for the French government Paris, France
in 1895, he was considered "the most eminent living
Died 18 March 1907 (aged 79)
chemist" in France.[4] In 1901, he was elected as one Paris, France
of the "Forty Immortals" of the Académie
Known for Thomsen–Berthelot principle
française.[5][6] He gave all his discoveries not only to
Berthelot's reagent
the French government but to humanity.[7]
Principle of maximum work
Spouse Sophie Berthelot
Personal life Children André · Marie-Hélène · Camille ·
Daniel · Philippe · René
Berthelot was born in Rue du Mouton, Paris,[8] France, Awards Davy Medal (1883)
on 25 October 1827, the son of a doctor. He decided
Copley Medal (1900)
with his friend, the great historian Ernest Renan, not to
attend a grande école where the vast majority of Scientific career
intellectuals were being educated.[9] After doing well Fields Chemistry (thermochemistry)
at school in history and philosophy, he became a
scientist.

He was an atheist but was very influenced by his wife, who was a Calvinist[10] (his wife came from Louis
Breguet's family).[11][12]

Discoveries
The fundamental conception that underlay all Berthelot's chemical work was that all chemical phenomena
depend on the action of physical forces which can be determined and measured. When he began his
active career it was generally believed that, although some instances of the synthetic production of
organic substances had been observed, on the whole organic chemistry remained an analytical science
and could not become a constructive one, because the formation of the substances with which it deals
required the intervention of vital activity in some shape.[13] He engaged in a long argument with Louis
Pasteur on the subject of vitalism, in which Pasteur took the vitalist position on the basis of his work on
alcoholic fermentation.[14]

To this attitude he offered uncompromising opposition, and by the synthetic production of numerous
hydrocarbons, natural fats, sugars and other bodies he proved that organic compounds can be formed by
ordinary methods of chemical manipulation and obey the same principles as inorganic substances, thus
exhibiting the "creative character in virtue of which chemistry actually realizes the abstract conceptions
of its theories and classifications—a prerogative so far possessed neither by the natural nor by the
historical sciences."[13]

Recognition
In 1863 he became a member of the Académie Nationale de Médecine; he was also awarded the Grand
Cross of the Legion of Honour. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences in 1880.[15] In 1881 he became a foreign member of the Royal Netherlands Academy
of Arts and Sciences.[16] He was elected an International Member of the United States National Academy
of Sciences in 1833.[17] In 1895, he was elected an International Member of the American Philosophical
Society.[18]

Avenue Berthelot in Lyon was named after him on 25 March 1907.

Publications

Bombs used for hydrogen explosion experiments

His investigations on the synthesis of organic compounds were published in numerous papers and books,
including Chimie organique fondée sur la synthèse (1860) and Les Carbures d'hydrogène (1901). He
stated that chemical phenomena are not governed by any peculiar laws special to themselves, but are
explicable in terms of the general laws of mechanics that are in operation throughout the universe; and
this view he developed, with the aid of thousands of experiments, in his Mécanique chimique (1878) and
his Thermochimie (1897). This branch of study naturally conducted him to the investigation of
explosives, and on the theoretical side led to the results published in his work Sur la force de la poudre et
des matières explosives (1872), while in practical terms it enabled him to render important services to his
country as president of the scientific defence committee during the siege of Paris (1870–1871) and
subsequently as chief of the French explosives committee.[13] He
performed experiments to determine gas pressures during
hydrogen explosions using a special chamber fitted with a piston,
and was able to distinguish burning of mixtures of hydrogen and
oxygen from true explosions.

Historical and philosophical work

During later life he researched and wrote books on the early
history of chemistry such as Les Origines de l'alchimie (1885)[19]
and Introduction à l'étude de la chimie des anciens et du moyen
âge (1889),[20] He also translated various old Greek, Syriac and
Arabic treatises on alchemy and chemistry: Collection des anciens
alchimistes grecs (1887–1888)[21] and La Chimie au moyen âge
(1893).[22] He was the author of Science et philosophie (1886),[23]
which contains a well-known letter to Renan on "La Science
idéale et la science positive," of La Révolution chimique,
Lavoisier (1890),[24] of Science et morale (1897),[25] and of
numerous articles in La Grande Encyclopédie, which he helped to La Révolution chimique, 1890
establish.

Untersuchungen über die Affinitäten, über Bildung und Zersetzung der Äther. Ostwalds
Klassiker der exakten Wissenschaften; 173 Leipzig: Engelmann, 1910 Digital edition (http://
nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:061:2-169613) by the University and State Library
Düsseldorf

Editions
Introduction a l'étude de la chimie des anciens et du Moyen Age (https://gutenberg.beic.it/w
ebclient/DeliveryManager?pid=12381565) (in French). Paris: Steinheil. 1889.
La Révolution chimique (https://gutenberg.beic.it/webclient/DeliveryManager?pid=1180056
1) (in French). Paris: Alcan. 1890.

Family
Berthelot died suddenly on 18 March 1907, immediately after the death of his wife Sophie Niaudet
(1837–1907), in Paris.[13] His professorship was filled by Emil Jungfleisch.

He was buried with his wife in the Panthéon. He had six children:[26] Marcel André (1862–1939), Marie-
Hélène (1863–1895), Camille (1864–1928), Daniel (1865–1927), Philippe (1866–1934), and René
(1872–1960).

In art
Auguste Rodin created a bust of Berthelot.

See also
Abiogenic petroleum origin
Berthelot's reagent

Notes
1. Jungfleisch, Émile (1913). "Notice sur la vie et les travaux de
Marcellin Berthelot" (https://books.google.com/books?id=pA9LAA
Rodin's bust of
AAYAAJ&dq=marcellin+berthelot+octobre+1827&pg=PR1).
Berthelot. Ny Carlsberg
Bulletin de la Société Chimique de France. 13 (Extrait): 1–260.
Glyptotek, Copenhagen,
2. Gross, Daniel A. (2015). "Brave New Butter" (https://www.scienceh Denmark
istory.org/distillations/magazine/brave-new-butter). Distillations. 1
(1): 6–7. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
3. Ogle, Maureen (7 August 2013). "A Century Before the Lab-Grown
Burger, This Chemist Imagined "Toothsome" Manufactured Food"
(http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/08/07/pierre_eug_n
e_marcellin_berthelot_s_19th_century_quest_to_create_lab_grow
n.html). Slate/Future Tense. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
4. "Biographies" (https://books.google.com/books?id=SoJNAAAAMA
AJ&pg=PA574). Bulletin of Pharmacy. 9: 574. 1895. Retrieved
30 April 2018.
5. Hearst, W. R. (1903). The American Almanac, Year-book,
Cyclopaedia and Atlas (https://books.google.com/books?id=x1gTA
AAAYAAJ). Vol. 1. New York American and Journal, Hearst's
Chicago American and San Francisco Examiner. p. 219. Retrieved
30 April 2018.
6. "Contemporary celebrities" (https://books.google.com/books?id=Ur
ZNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA139). Current Literature. 32: 139. 1902.
Retrieved 30 April 2018.
7. Talbot, Jean (1995). Les éléments chimiques et les hommes.
Paris: SIRPE.
8. "Former Fellows of The Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 – 2002"
(https://web.archive.org/web/20150919152306/https://www.royalso
ced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf)
(PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. Archived from the original
(http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/
fells_indexp1.pdf) (PDF) on 19 September 2015. Retrieved
30 April 2018.
9. M. Berthelot, Sciences et Morales, On education, Paris, Impr.
Nouvelle, 1895
10. Abraham Louis Breguet on www.hautehorlogerie.com
11. Robert K. Wilcox (2010). The Truth About the Shroud of Turin: Solving the Mystery. Regnery
Gateway. p. 23. ISBN 978-1-59698-600-8. "In 1902, Marcellin P. Berthelot, often called the
founder of modern organic chemistry, was one of France's most celebrated scientists—if not
the world's. He was permanent secretary of the French Academy, having succeeded the
giant Louis Pasteur, the renowned microbiologist. Unlike Delage, an agnostic, Berthelot was
an atheist—and militantly so."
12. Thomas de Wesselow (2012). The Sign: The Shroud of Turin and the Secret of the
Resurrection. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-101-58855-0. "Although Delage made it clear that he
did not regard Jesus as the resurrected Son of God, his paper upset the atheist members of
the Academy, including its secretary, Marcellin Berthelot, who prevented its full publication in
the Academy's bulletin."
13. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh,
ed. (1911). "Berthelot, Marcellin Pierre Eugène". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.).
Cambridge University Press. p. 811; see para 2.
14. Friedmann, H C (1997). Cornish-Bowden, A (ed.). From Friedrich Wöhler's urine to Eduard
Buchner's alcohol. Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain. pp. 67–122. ISBN 84-370-3328-
4.
15. "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter B" (http://www.amacad.org/publications/BookofMe
mbers/ChapterB.pdf) (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved
11 September 2016.
16. "M. Berthelot (1827 - 1907)" (http://www.dwc.knaw.nl/biografie/pmknaw/?pagetype=authorD
etail&aId=PE00002064). Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved
23 April 2016.
17. "M. P. E. Berthelot" (https://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/20001
929.html). www.nasonline.org. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
18. "APS Member History" (https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Marcelin+Ber
thelot&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=adva
nced). search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
19. Les origines de l'alchemie (https://archive.org/details/lesoriginesdelal00bert) (Paris, G.
Steinheil, 1885).
20. Introduction à l'étude de la chimie, des anciens et du moyen âge (https://archive.org/details/i
ntroductionl00bert) (Paris, G. Steinheil, 1889).
21. Collection des anciens alchimistes Grec. Volume 1 (https://archive.org/details/collectiondesa
nc01bert), Volume 2–3 (https://archive.org/details/collectiondesanc23bert) (Paris : G.
Steinheil, 1887).
22. Histoire des sciences: La chimie au moyen âge (https://archive.org/details/histoiredesscie00
duvagoog) (Imprimerie nationale, 1893).
23. Science et philosophie (https://archive.org/details/scienceetphilos00bertgoog) (Levy, 1886).
24. La révolution chimique: Lavoisier (https://archive.org/details/larvolutionchi00bertuoft) (Paris
Germer-Baillière, 1890)
25. Science Et Morale (https://archive.org/details/scienceetmorale00bertgoog) (Levy, 1897).
26. Individus (http://mapage.noos.fr/genealogie-monod/www/mono0391.html#I2352) at
mapage.noos.fr

References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh,
ed. (1911). "Berthelot, Marcellin Pierre Eugène". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 3 (11th ed.).
Cambridge University Press. p. 811.
 Doremus, CG (April 1907). "Pierre Eugene Marcelin Berthelot" (https://zenodo.org/record/14
47980). Science. 25 (641): 592–595. Bibcode:1907Sci....25..592D (https://ui.adsabs.harvar
d.edu/abs/1907Sci....25..592D). doi:10.1126/science.25.641.592 (https://doi.org/10.1126%2
Fscience.25.641.592). PMID 17749176 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17749176).

Further reading
Crosland, M.P. (1970–1980). "Berthelot, Pierre Eugène Marcelin". Dictionary of Scientific
Biography. Vol. 2. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 63–72. ISBN 978-0-684-10114-9.
Graebe, O. (1908). "Marcelin Berthelot" (https://zenodo.org/record/1426319). Berichte der
Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 41 (3): 4805–4872. doi:10.1002/cber.190804103193
(https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fcber.190804103193).
Jean Jacques, Berthelot 1827-1907, autopsie d'un mythe, Paris, Belin, 1987. (The author,
who admits not liking Berthelot, seeks to sort out the chaff and good grain, not only in his
political and ideological activity, but also in his scientific work.)

External links
Works by Marcellin Berthelot (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/5570) at Project
Gutenberg
Works by or about Marcellin Berthelot (https://archive.org/search.php?query=%28%28subje
ct%3A%22Berthelot%2C%20Marcellin%22%20OR%20subject%3A%22Marcellin%20Berthe
lot%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Berthelot%2C%20Marcellin%22%20OR%20creator%3
A%22Marcellin%20Berthelot%22%20OR%20creator%3A%22Berthelot%2C%20M%2E%2
2%20OR%20title%3A%22Marcellin%20Berthelot%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Berth
elot%2C%20Marcellin%22%20OR%20description%3A%22Marcellin%20Berthelot%22%2
9%20OR%20%28%221827-1907%22%20AND%20Berthelot%29%29%20AND%20%28-me
diatype:software%29) at the Internet Archive
Biographies of Scientific Men/Berthelot - Wikisource, the free online library
Newspaper clippings about Marcellin Berthelot (http://purl.org/pressemappe20/folder/pe/001
614) in the 20th Century Press Archives of the ZBW

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