Autoine Francois Fourcroy, count, a French chemist, born in Paris, Jan. 15, 1755, died there, Dec. 16, 1809. The son of a druggist in reduced circumstances, he tried to gain a living by several callings, but finally, in 1775, became a student of medicine. In 1777 he published a translation of Ramazzini's Latin Treatise on the Diseases of Mechanics," with notes and additions. In 1780 he delivered a course of popular lectures on chemistry and natural history, which attracted a large auditory, and were published in 1781. In 1784 he was appointed professor of chemistry at the jardin du roi, now jardin des plantes, for which post he had been designated by Buffon in preference to Berthollet. He had been previously admitted to the scientific meetings held at the house of Lavoisier, took part in the discussions on systematizing chemistry, and was one of the editors of the Methode de nomenclature chimique, which appeared in 1787, and marked a new era in the progress of that science. He meanwhile published many papers upon chemistry, and enlarged and improved his lectures. In 1792 he was elected assistant deputy to the convention, and for 18 months devoted his whole time and energy to extracting and purifying saltpetre, which was then much needed in France for the manufacture of gunpowder.

During the reign of terror, Desault, Chaptal, and Darcet were indebted to him for their safety; but all his exertions were powerless to save Lavoisier. After the 9th Thermidor, being appointed a member of the committee of public safety, he endeavored to improve the system of public education; he organized the polytechnic school, caused the establishment of three schools of medicine, and suggested the idea of the normal school. On the adjournment of the convention he was elected to the council of ancients, resumed his public discourses on science, and remodelled his lectures, which, under the title of Systeme des connaissances chimiques, et de leur application aux phenomenes de la nature et de l'art (6 vols. 4to or 11 vols. 8vo, Paris, 1801), became the greatest monument erected to chemical science in the 18th century." Bonaparte appointed him director general of public instruction; under his care the public schools flourished, and no fewer than 300 colleges or lyceums were established. The organization of the new university of France was devised by him, and he expected to be appointed grand master; but Napoleon gave the place to Fontanes. This preyed seriously upon his mind, and hastened his death.

Besides the works mentioned above, he wrote La medecine eclairee par les sciences physiques (4 vols. 8vo, 1791), La philosophic chimique (8vo, 1792), Tableaux synoptiques de chimie (atlas folio, 1805), and many scientific papers in the Memoires de l'aca-dhnie des sciences and other learned collections.