1743-1822

French mineralogist and a founder of the science of crystallography. From 1784-1822 he published successive versions of his mathematical theory of crystal structure, which emphasized geometrical simplicity over experimental data. He also used his theory as the basis for a new classification of minerals, although he ultimately had to concede that some minerals have more than one crystal structure. Haüy held a variety of scientific teaching posts in French institutions, both before and after the Revolution.