Daniel Rutherford

Daniel Rutherford FRSE FRCPE FLS FSA(Scot)

Daniel Rutherford (3 November 1749 – 15 November 1819) was a British doctor, chemist, and plant expert. He discovered an important gas in 1772. This gas is now called nitrogen. His discovery helped scientists understand air better.

Rutherford liked to study many different parts of science. He worked with gases and also studied plants. His work helped other scientists learn more about the world.

Because of his achievements, Rutherford was honored by many science groups. His work is still important today in the history of chemistry and science.

Life

Daniel Rutherford was born on 3 November 1749. He studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh and became a doctor in 1772. Later, he taught botany there and helped start important groups like the Harveian Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Rutherford also worked as a doctor in Edinburgh and lived in a house on the Royal Mile. He taught many students and was known for his work with plants. He passed away suddenly in Edinburgh on 15 November 1819.

Family

Daniel Rutherford had an interesting family. He was the uncle of the famous novelist Sir Walter Scott. In 1786, he married Harriet Mitchelson. She was from a place called Middleton.

Isolation of nitrogen

Daniel Rutherford discovered nitrogen in 1772. He did this by collecting the gas. His teacher, Joseph Black, had noticed that a candle would not burn in carbon dioxide.

Rutherford did an experiment. He put a mouse in a small space with air. When the mouse could not live anymore, he burned a candle and phosphorus in the air left behind. After that, he passed the air through a liquid that took away the carbon dioxide. The gas that was left did not help fire burn and could not keep living things alive.

Rutherford called this gas “noxious air” or “phlogisticated air.” He told others about what he found in 1772. At that time, he and Joseph Black believed in the phlogiston theory, which was how people explained burning back then.

Main article: Phlogiston theory

Botanical reference

The standard author abbreviation Rutherf. is used to show that Daniel Rutherford wrote about a botanical name. When scientists mention a plant name and see "Rutherf.," it means he was the one who described it.