Pierre Berthier

Pierre Berthier was a French <a href="/facts/Geologist/vGc0tBHB">geologist</a> and <a href="/facts/Mining_engineering/VEAosBGK">mining engineer</a>.
Pierre Berthier was born in <a href="/facts/Nemours/VeA4Udcw">Nemours</a>. After studying at the <a href="/facts/%25C3%2589cole_Polytechnique/0DS7aMaR">École Polytechnique</a>, he went to the <a href="/facts/%25C3%2589cole_des_Mines/gh5tnd1u">École des Mines</a>, where he became chief of the laboratory in 1816. In 1821, while working in the village of <a href="/facts/Les_Baux-de-Provence/JJWHsErW">Les Baux-de-Provence</a>, in southern <a href="/facts/France/CxIeIKM3">France</a>, he discovered the rock <a href="/facts/Bauxite/CJ10QPc6">bauxite</a>, named for the place of its discovery. He also discovered the mineral <a href="/facts/Berthierite/artFYUTc">Berthierite</a>, which was named after him. In addition to numerous contributions in <a href="/facts/Mineralogy/MeIK9lx9">mineralogy</a> and mining, Berthier is also noted for his research into <a href="/facts/Blast_furnace/DJzUB2EG">blast furnaces</a> and for the utilization of <a href="/facts/Phosphate/FDGVCxUG">phosphates</a> by plants.
He was paralyzed by an accident in 1858.
The detailed register of homosexuals, then maintained by the Paris police prefecture, mention him as a lover of soldiers.

Pierre Berthier open-in-new

Pierre Berthier