*CHEVREUL, MICHEL EUGENE, a distinguished chemist, was born at Angers, August 31st, 1786. His father, who practised as a physician, took good care of his education, and sent him to the Central School at Angers. In 1803 the youth removed to Paris, and studied chemistry under Vauquelin. In 1310, when not more than twenty-four years of age, he became assistant naturalist to the museum; but some of the professors having taken umbrage at the growing importance of the appointment, it was abolished. Later M. Chevreul was named professor of science at the College Charlemagne ; then officer of the University ; examiner at the Ecole Polytechnique, and lastly director of the dyeworks, and professor of special chemistry at the Gobeline. Here he signalised his practical science and judicious taste by his innovations with respect to associated colours. He gave a course of lectures on the subject, which were understood only by a limited number of adepts. The opinion that taste and colours should not bo discussed had passed into a proverb : Chevreul denied the assertion, and drew up a species of aesthetics for the use of dyers, manufacturers, and artists.
In 1826 Chevreul was elected a member of the Academy of Sciences, and a foreign member of the Royal Society of London, and in 1829 he succeeded Vauquelin in the professorship of applied chemistry at the Jardin des Plantes. One of his earliest work; which has contributed in no small degree to his reputation, was an analytical treatise 'Recherches chimiques sur les Corps gran d'origine Animals.' It establishes an epoch in science by its rigorous and philosophical method; and in the arts by the multitude of its applications and the greatness of its results. From it many new branches of industry have been created, and others profitably metamorphosed. Oleic acid, so useful in the preparation of woollen yarns, stearine, and the remark able imitations of essences and perfumes, all originated in Chevreul's researches.
In 1831 M. Chevreul published Lecons de Chimie appliqu6e a In Teinture, faites a la manufacture Royale des Gobelins,' 2 vols. 8vo, which became a text-book on that subject. In 1339 appeared 'De lit Loi du Contraste simultan6 des Couleurs, et do l'assortiment des objets color6s, coneid6r6 d'apres cette Loi daus ses rapports aveo la peinture,' dm This is a remarkable work, full of philosophical reflec tions, apt generalisations, and scientific illustrations of the theory.
Tho laws of harmonious colouring are therein clearly established. It has been translated into English, and wherever known is recognised as a thoroughly scientific and practical authority. By invitation of the minister of commerce, M. Chevreul delivered a course of lectures on the subject at Lyon, from which great advantages accrued to the manufacturers of that city. N. Chevreul shows the applications of his theory to be innumerable, and discusses especially the optical effects of silken stuffs, illustrating his doctrine by contiguous metallic cylin ders, regarded under four different aspects : according as they aro parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the luminous rays that strike them, and according as the observer turns his back or his face to the light, and he examines the question as to whether the light is more particularly reflected by the warp or weft of the tissue. This theory was printed in 1846 at the expense of the Chamber of Commerce of Lyon.
In 1852 the Soci6t6 d'Encouragement awarded to M. Chevreul their prize of 12,000 francs for his work on the Corps Gras,' and expressed at the same time by the mouth of M, Dumas, one of the foremost chemists of the day, their high opinion of his merits.
Among the numerous writings with which M. Chevreul has enriched science for more than forty years, are some of no little importance on the chemical reactions which affect the hygiene of populous cities. In these he traces the causes of insalubrity, and treats the subject from a point of view which raises it into a science applicable in sanitary regulations.
Although in his seventieth year, M. Chevreul retains his intellectual activity, and takes part in the meetings of the Institute, in the adminis iration of the Jardin des Plantes, in the management of the Soci6t6 :entrale d'Agriculture, and of the Gobelins, besides delivering every Pear two or three courses of lectures on chemistry. This latter is his 'avourite science, and ho has for some time been engaged in writing a iistory of it. His fitness for the task is demonstrated by the many able articles from his pen in the Journal des Savants,' the 'Annales Is Chimie,"Dictionnaire des Sciences naturelles,"M6moires de 'Acad6mie des Sciences,' and. other publications. He is a member of nest of the principal scientific societies of Europe.