{{Short description|French scientist (1770 – 1847)}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name              = Alexandre Brongniart
|image             = Alexandre Brongniart.jpg
|image_size        = 
|alt               = 
|caption           = Alexandre Brongniart
|birth_date        = {{birth date text|5 February 1770}}<ref name="BnFauthorities">{{Cite web |url=https://data.bnf.fr/en/12276596/alexandre_brongniart/ |title=Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847) |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=[[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]}}</ref>
|birth_place       = [[Paris]], [[Kingdom of France]]
|death_date        = {{death date and age text|7 October 1847|5 February 1770}}<ref name="BnFauthorities" />
|death_place       = Paris, [[July Monarchy|Kingdom of France]]
|residence         = 
|citizenship       = 
|ethnicity         = 
|fields            = {{Unbulleted list|[[Chemistry]]|[[Mineralogy]]|[[Zoology]]}}
|workplaces        = [[Sèvres - Cité de la céramique]]<br/>[[Manufacture nationale de Sèvres]]<br/>[[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]]
|alma_mater        = 
| signature        = File:Alexandre brongniart signature.svg
}}
[[File:AlexBrongniart.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Alexandre Brongniart by Emile-Charles Wattier, 1847]]
'''Alexandre Brongniart''' (5 February 1770{{snd}}7 October 1847) was a French [[chemist]], [[mineralogist]], [[geologist]], [[paleontologist]], and [[zoologist]], who collaborated with [[Georges Cuvier]] on a study of the [[geology]] of the region around [[Paris]]. Observing [[fossil]] content as well as [[lithology]] in sequences, he classified [[Tertiary period|Tertiary]] [[Formation (geology)|formations]] and was responsible for defining 19th century geological studies as a subject of science by assembling observations and classifications.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists Third Edition Volume I|publisher=OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS|year=2000|location=NEW YORK}}</ref>

Brongniart was also the founder of the [[Sèvres - Cité de la céramique|Musée national de Céramique-Sèvres]] (National Museum of Ceramics), having been director of the [[Manufacture nationale de Sèvres|Sèvres Porcelain Factory]] from 1800 to 1847.

==Life==

He was born in [[Paris]], the son of the architect [[Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart]] and father of the botanist [[Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart]].

In 1788, he co-founded the French Philomathic Society of Paris.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accueil |url=https://philomathique.paris/index.php/home/10-histoire |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=philomathique.paris}}</ref>

In 1797, he became an instructor of natural history at the  Central School of the Four Nations, and became the professor of mineralogy in 1822 at the Museum of Natural History in Paris.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |last1=Gillispie |first1=Charles |title=Dictionary of Scientific Biography |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryscient08gill |url-access=limited |publisher=Charles Scribner's Sons |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryscient08gill/page/n503 493]–497}}</ref>

He was appointed in 1800 by Napoleon's minister of the interior [[Lucien Bonaparte]] director of the revitalized [[Manufacture nationale de Sèvres|porcelain manufactory at Sèvres]], holding this role until death. The young man took to the position a combination of his training as a scientist— especially as a mining engineer relevant to the chemistry of [[ceramic]]s— his managerial talents and financial acumen and his  cultivated understanding of [[Neoclassicism|neoclassical esthetic]].<ref>The combination of characters are noted in Lynn Springer Roberts, "The Londonderry Vase: A Royal Gift to Curry Favor" ''Art Institute of Chicago Museum Studies'' '''15'''.1 (1989:68-81+88) p. 73.</ref> He remained in charge of Sèvres, through regime changes, for 47 years.

Brongniart introduced a new classification of [[reptile]]s and wrote several treatises on [[mineralogy]] and the [[Ceramics (art)|ceramic arts]]. He also made an extensive study of [[trilobite]]s and made pioneering contributions to [[stratigraphy]] by developing fossil markers for dating strata.

He was elected a member of the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 1819<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=1819&year-max=1819&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-04-05|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref> and a foreign member of the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] in 1823.

==Work==
In his early ages, Brongniart focused on the studies of reptiles and published ''Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles'' in 1800, which he compared the anatomy of reptiles in order to classify them into different groups.<ref name=":1" /> The four classifications were [[Chelonia (order)|Chelonia]], [[Sauria]], [[Ophidia]] and [[Batrachia]].<ref name=":1" /> However, even-though he classified Batrachia as a sub-class of Reptilia, Brongniart noticed a huge difference in the anatomy of Batrachia compared to the rest of the class.<ref name=":0" /> This problem was resolved in 1804 by [[Pierre André Latreille|Pierre Latreille]] by replacing Batrachia into a class called [[Amphibian]]s, and the rest of the Reptilia grouping was retained.<ref name=":0" /> Therefore, Batrachians is the only group that is no longer recognized as reptiles as they are amphibians.<ref name=":0" />
[[File:Georges Cuvie, Carte geognostique des environs de Paris - David Rumsey.jpg|thumb|Paris Map that Brongniart and Cuvier used to study the strata around Paris area]]
[[File:Calymene blumenbachii.jpg|thumb|The [[Silurian]] trilobite ''Calymene blumenbachii'' Brongn.; Brongniart ''in'' Desmarest, 1817.<ref>Desmarest, A. G. 1817. Calymène. in: ''Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle'', Nouvelle Edition, Tome '''8''', pp. 517 – 518.</ref> From the [[Much Wenlock Limestone Formation]], [[Homerian]] Stage, Wenlock Series, Dudley, West Midlands, UK.]]
The most significant geological work for Brongniart was ''[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6467343s/f17.image.texteImage Essai sur la géographie minéralogique des environs de Paris]'' in collaboration with [[Georges Cuvier]] on studies of geology around Paris in 1811.<ref name=":0" /> At the time, Cuvier was trying to figure out the periods the fossils were from and to reconstruct the extinct mammals based on the periods they were from.<ref name=":0" /> Their paper "''Essai sur la géographie minéralogique des environs de Paris"'' identified nine formations that had been formed over a very long period of time.<ref name=":0" /> The formations, starting with the oldest, were called the Chalk, Argile Plastique, Calcaire grossier, Calcaire silicieux, Formation gypseuse, Sabels et Gres marins, Gres sans coquilliers, Terrain d’eau douce, and Limon d’aterrissement. Brongniart found that some of the [https://geolmaps.com/products/books-france-3?variant=7384205492260 strata] had marine mollusk fossils, and some had fresh water mollusk fossils.<ref name=":0" /> He used the alternation of these marine and fresh water layers to disprove the theory that strata were deposited by a shrinking ocean. The paper was first read to the public in April 1808 but was extended in June 1808 and later on 1811.<ref name=":0" /> They were among the first people to study the earth by its fossil content instead of relying on the characteristics of rocks.<ref name=":0" /> During the collaboration, they also found evidences against Abraham Werner's Neptunism.<ref name=":0" /> The results triggered Cuvier into creating catastrophism.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=A Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists|url=https://archive.org/details/biographicalency00newy|url-access=registration|publisher=Facts On File, Inc.|year=1981|isbn=0-87196-396-5|location=New York}}</ref>

Another significant contribution in stratigraphy was using the fossil content in the strata he examined in Paris to identify strata in other locations instead of depth or lithology,{{citation needed|date=March 2026}} as rocks can not be expected to have the exact same characteristics or depth if deposited under different conditions.

In 1822, Brongniart published the first full-length study of trilobites in which he classified a variety from Europe and North America and tried to group them based on age. This work contributed to later work on Paleozoic stratigraphy.<ref name=":0" />

Whilst at Sèvres, he developed a mathematical formula to determine the dry material content of ceramic slips; this has become to be known as Brongniart's formula.<ref name="Singer">{{cite book |last1=Singer |first1=Felix |last2=Singer |first2=Sonja S. |title=Industrial Ceramics. |date=1971 |publisher=Chapman & Hall |location=London |isbn=9788120401624}}</ref>

==Publications==
*''Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles'' (1800)<ref name=":0" />
*''Mémoires de l’Institut de France'' (1806)<ref name=":0" />
*''Traité Élémentaire de Minéralogie'' (1807)<ref name=":0" />
*''[https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6467343s/f17.image.texteImage Essai sur la géographie minéralogique des environs de Paris]'' (1811)
*''Annales du Museum d’Histoire Naturelle'' (1811)<ref name=":0" />
*''Mémoires de l’Institut Impérial de France'' (1811)<ref name=":0" />
*''Sur les terrains qui paraissent avoir été formés sous l’eau douce'' (1810)<ref name=":0" />
*''Histoire naturelle des crustacés fossiles, sous les rapports zoologiques et géologiques'' (1822)<ref name=":0" />
*''Mémoire sur les terrains de sédiment supérieurs calcaro-trappéens du Vicentin, et sur qui peuvent se rapporter à la même époque'' (1823)<ref name=":0" />
*''Classification et caractères minéralogiques des roches homogènes et hétérogènes'' (1827)<ref name=":0" />

==Family==
[[File:Mme Alexandre Brongniart, née Cécile Coquebert de Montbret, peint par Mme Chaudet.jpg|thumb|Mme Alexandre Brongniart, née Cécile Coquebert de Montbret, 1800, by [[Jeanne-Elisabeth Chaudet]]]]
His wife was Cecile Coquebert de Montbret (1782–1862), the daughter of the French consul to England, Charles-Etienne Coquebert de Montbret. They had three children together. Their son, [[Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart]], became a major figure in the study of paleobotany. Their daughter Hermine (1803–1890) married [[Jean Baptiste Dumas]], and their other daughter Mathilde (1808–1882) married [[Jean Victoir Audouin]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bork |first1=Kennard B. |title=Alexandre Brongniart (1770-1847) Shows that a 'FActs First' Scientific Approach Can Lead to Large-Scale Conclusions |journal=Earth Sciences History |date=2013 |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=9–22|doi=10.17704/eshi.32.1.x8757468r35215h1 |bibcode=2013ESHis..32....9B }}</ref>

==Botanical reference==
{{botanist|Al.Brongn.}}

==Bibliography==
* '''Brongniart,''' Alex., Essai d'une classification naturelle des Reptiles. in: Millin, Magas. encycl. V. 6. 1799. p.&nbsp;184–201. – (Mit Abbildgn. [Abbildungen]) Bulletin des Sciences, par la Société Philomatique. II, an 8. p.&nbsp;81–82. 89–91.<br /> Essai d'une classification naturelle des Reptiles. (Mit 2 Taf. [Tafeln]) in: Mém. prés. à l'Inst. Sciences math. et phys. Tom. 1. 1805. p.&nbsp;587–637.
* By HathiTrust ([https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hxkbrs;view=1up;seq=465]) it's something like:
*: Alex. Brongniart: ''Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles<|!-- , par le citoyen Alex. Brongniart --|>.'' In: ''Bulletin des sciences, par la Sociéte philomathatique [de Paris?].'' [Tom. II?] Paris, ''pluviose, an 8 de la République [Rainfull (5th month of the French Republic), year 8 of the Republic]'', No. 35, p.&nbsp;81–82 & ''ventose, an 8 de la République [Windfull (6th month of the French Republic), year 8 of the Republic]'', No. 36, p.&nbsp;89–91.
-->
* Alexandre Brongniart: ''Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles<!-- ; par Alexandre Brongniart, professeur d'histoire naturelle, à l'école centrale des Quatre-Nations -->.'' In: ''Magasin encyclopédique, ou journal des sciences, des lettres et des arts; rédigé par A. L. Millin. V. année. Tome sixième.'' Paris, ''an VIII'' [year 8 (of [[French First Republic|the Republic]])] – 1799, p.&nbsp;184–201 ([https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101076872959;view=1up;seq=190 HathiTrust]).
* Brongniart, A. 1800. ''Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles''. Bulletin de la Société Philomatique. '''2''' (36): 89–91.
* Alexandre Brongniart: ''Essai d'une classification naturelle des reptiles<!-- , Par Alexandre Brongniart, Professeur d'histoire naturelle à l'école centrale des Quatre-Nations, ingénieur des mines, etc. -->.'' In: ''Mémoires présentés a l'Institut des Sciences, lettres et arts, par divers savans, et lus dans ses assemblées. Sciences mathématiques et physiques. Tome premier.'' Paris, ''frimaire an XIV'' [<nowiki/>[[frimaire]] year 14 (of [[French First Republic|the Republic]])] = 1805, p.&nbsp;587–637 ([https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.105248468;view=1up;seq=633 HathiTrust]).
* {{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/traitdesartscra00brongoog |title=Traité des arts céramiques, ou des poteries considérées dans leur histoire, leur pratique et leur théorie |last=Brongniart |first=Alexandre |edition=2nd |date=January 1854 |publisher=Béchet jeune |location=Paris}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[[Martin J. S. Rudwick|Rudwick, Martin J.S.]], ''Georges Cuvier, Fossil Bones, and Geological Catastrophes''. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1997. {{ISBN|0-226-73106-5}}

{{Nuttall|title=Brongniart, Alexandre}}

{{EB1911 poster|Brongniart, Alexandre}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brongniart, Alexandre}}
[[Category:19th-century French chemists]]
[[Category:19th-century French geologists]]
[[Category:French mineralogists]]
[[Category:1770 births]]
[[Category:1847 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century French zoologists]]
[[Category:Members of the French Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Foreign members of the Royal Society]]
[[Category:Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery]]
[[Category:International members of the American Philosophical Society]]
[[Category:French fellows of the Royal Society]]