Henckel, Johann Friedrich

1. Dates

Born: Merseburg, Germany, 1 Aug 1678

Died: Freiberg, 26 Jan 1744

Dateinfo: Dates Certain

Lifespan: 66

2. Father

Occupation: Physician, Government Official

His father was the town physician of Merseburg (from 1674).

I assume prosperous.

3. Nationality

Birth: Merseburg, Germany

Career: Freiberg, Germany

Death: Freiberg, Germany

4. Education

Schooling: Jena; Halle, M.D.

1685-1694, attended the Domschule, Merseburg.

1698, enrolled at the University of Jena to study theology, but switched to medicine.

By 1709/1710, he was in Dresden, where he worked under the supervision of a physician involved in chemical research and opened his own practice.

1711, University of Halle, studying under G.E. Stahl. Received an M.D. (1711). I assume a B.A. or its equivalent along the line.

5. Religion

Affiliation: Lutheran

6. Scientific Disciplines

Primary: Mineralogy, Chemistry

Subordinate: Medicine

7. Means of Support

Primary: Government, Medicine

c. 1710, opened his own medical practice in Dresden before receiving his M.D.

1712-1730, practiced medicine in Freiberg, becoming district physician (1718), town physician (1721), and mine physician (1723).

1730, moved to Dresden. In 1732, he was appointed councilor of mines (Bergrat) at a handsome salary and with a substantial budget for investigating Saxony's mineral resources.

c. 1732, he returned to Freiberg, where, with state help, he established a large laboratory for conducting his official duties, and also published and taught metallurgical chemistry. In 1737, he was appointed assessor at the chief mining office.

8. Patronage

Types: Aristrocrat, Court Official

He was favored by an influential noble (who is unnamed in the literature), when he resigned his posts in Freiberg and moved to Dresden. I assume this entailed getting Henckel the appointment as councilor.

In recognition for his contributions to porcelain fabrication, he was named mining councilor to the elector of Saxony ("kurfuerstlich saechsischen Bergrath") by King August II.

9. Technological Involvement

Types: Chemistry, Medical Practice

He discovered useful processes in the fabrication of porcelain.

10. Scientific Societies

Memberships: Berlin Academy, Academia Leopoldina

1726, member of the Prussian academy of sciences.

1728, member of the Leopoldina.

He used the leverage of a foreign offer, possibly from the St. Petersburg academy, to influence his appointment as a councilor.

Sources

1. Walther Fischer, Neue deutsche Biographie (Berlin, 1952- ), 8, 515a-16a.
2. Guembel, Allgemeine deutsche Biographie, 11, 760-1.

Not Available and Not Consulted

1. Walther Herrmann, "Bergrath Henckel. Ein Wegbereiter der Bergakademie," Freiberger Forschungshefte: Kultur und Technik, 37D (1962).

Compiled by:

Richard S. Westfall

Department of History and Philosophy of Science

Indiana University

Note: the creators of the Galileo Project and this catalogue cannot answer email on geneological questions.