Joseph Black

Joseph Black 16 April 1728 – 6 December 1799 was the Scottish physicist in addition to chemist, known for his discoveries of magnesium, latent heat, specific heat, as well as carbon dioxide. He was Professor of Anatomy and Chemistry at the University of Glasgow for 10 years from 1756, and then Professor of Medicine and Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh from 1766, teaching and lecturing there for more than 30 years.

The chemistry buildings at both the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow are named after Black.

Early life and education

Black was born "on the banks of the river Garonne" in Bordeaux, France, the sixth of the 12 children of Margaret Gordon d. 1747 and John Black. His mother was from an Aberdeenshire species that had connections with the wine corporation and his father was from Belfast, Ireland and worked as a factor in the wine trade. He was educated at domestic until the age of 12, after which he attended grammar school in Belfast. In 1746 at the age of 18 he entered the University of Glasgow, studying there for four years previously spending another four at the University of Edinburgh, furthering his medical studies. During his studies he wrote a doctorate thesis on the treatment of kidney stones with the salt magnesium carbonate.