Fourcroy, Antoine François, comte de [key], 1755–1809, French chemist. He was a pioneer in animal and plant chemistry and collaborated with Lavoisier and others in reforming the system of chemical nomenclature. He was professor from 1784 at the Jardin du Roi (later the Jardin des Plantes), Paris, held public offices during the Revolution, and as director-general of public instruction from 1801 instituted reforms in the French system of higher education. He was made a count in 1808. His writings include The Philosophy of Chemistry (1792, tr. 1795) and A General System of Chemical Knowledge (11 vol., 1801–2; tr. 1804).
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