1756-1832

French chemist who was one of the first scientists to apply the concepts of chemistry to industry. Chaptal was put in charge of a gunpowder factory after the French Revolution. Because France was involved in numerous wars at the time, the industrial manufacture of gunpowder using chemical methods was crucial in preventing the country's defeat. In 1807, Chaptal wrote the first book on industrial chemistry, Chemistry Applied to the Arts. He also played a major role in introducing the metric system to France.