1800-1882

German Chemist

Friedrich Wöhler, along with Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1779-1848) and Justus von Liebig (1803-1873), were pioneers in applying the techniques of organic chemistry to the parts and products of living things. Their work, originally known as "animal chemistry," established the foundations of modern biochemistry. Wöhler and Liebig are important in the history of chemistry for their recognition of the benzoyl radical. Wöhler is best known for demonstrating that the isomerization of ammonium cyanate produced urea, thus making him the first to synthesize an organic compound from an inorganic compound.

Wöhler, the son of a schoolmaster, was born in Eschersheim, near Frankfurt-am-Main. Although Wöhler studied medicine at Marburg and Heidelberg and earned the M.D., he came under the influence of Leopold Gmelin (1788-1853) and decided to make chemistry his career. He never practiced medicine...