Antoine François de Fourcroy

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Antoine François de Fourcroy

1755-1809

French chemist whose most important contribution to chemistry was his advocacy of Antoine Lavoisier's views. His Principles de chimie (1787) was the first textbook based on antiphlogiston principles, and he collaborated with Lavoisier in revising chemical terminology. Fourcroy also collaborated with Louis Vauquelin. Together they discovered iridium (1803), produced the first satisfactory account of urea (1799), and prepared a relatively pure form of urea (1808). He was involved in educational reforms after the French Revolution.