Paul Traugott Meissner (23 March 1778, Mediasch, Transylvania – 9 July 1864) was an Austrian chemist.
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In 1797 he moved to Vienna, where he attended lectures given by Joseph Franz von Jacquin (1766-1839). Later, he continued his studies on a tour through Germany. He earned a degree as magister of pharmacy from the University of Pest, subsequently returning to Transylvania, where he took over management of a pharmacy in Kronstadt.
Beginning in 1815 he served as an adjunct at the newly founded Polytechnic Institute in Vienna, where shortly afterwards, he became a professor of technical chemistry. In 1842 he was appointed director of the department of general chemistry.[1]
Best known for his research in the field of heating technology, he is credited with development of a hot-air central heating system. He conducted experiments with heating systems for steamships and railway carriages and also created a fuel-efficient cooking range.[2] In 1820, Meissner's air heating system was tried out at a sugar refinery in Vienna.[3]
Described as a free thinker, Meissner was known for his controversial views that made adversaries out of contemporaries that included Vienna technologist Johann Joseph von Prechtl (1778-1854). German chemist Justus Liebig (1803-1873) specifically blamed Meissner for what he perceived was the plight of Austrian chemistry.[4][5] Since 1910, the Meißnergasse in the Donaustadt district of Vienna has been named in his honor.[6]
References
edit- ^ NDB/ADB Deutsche Biography
- ^ Biography @ aeiou Encyclopedia
- ^ Google Books Houses of Glass: A Nineteenth-century Building Type
- ^ Deutsches Museum Literature I: "Encyclopedia" and Polytechnic
- ^ Eilhard Mitscherlich, Prince of Prussian Chemistry edited by Schutt Hans-werner
- ^ Statement based on a translation of an equivalent article at the German Wikipedia.
External links
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Media related to Paul Traugott Meißner at Wikimedia Commons
