The Cradle of Chemistry

This book describes the progress of chemistry at the University of Edinburgh from the appointment of the first professor, James Crawford, in 1713 to the career of Thomas Charles Hope, a century or so later. It includes the radical attempt by William Cullen to introduce philosophical chemistry as a counterpart to Newtons natural philosophy, and Joseph Blacks eventual acceptance of Lavoisiers oxygen theory. This is a fascinating study of the period when Edinburghs chemistry literacy was higher than at any other time.