James Keir

James Keir ( born September 29, 1735 in Edinburgh / Scotland, † October 11, 1820 in West Bromwich ) was a medical doctor and chemist in the early phase of the industrial revolution. He became known through studies on the chemical structure of glass, an improved production of glass as well as the first industrial soap manufacturer whose products were affordable for everyone. This Keir had great influence on the development of general hygiene in the UK.

After studying medicine in Edinburgh, during which he became close friends with his fellow students, Erasmus Darwin, Keir went in 1757 to the army and was stationed in the West Indies. In 1768 he quit the service in the rank of captain and settled near Birmingham in the neighborhood of his old friend Darwin, who introduced him to the Lunar Society, founded a few years earlier, as one of their most important members Keir was soon. Keir gave up his medical activities and worked together with chemist Joseph Priestley in the analysis of various substances. Around 1770 he worked especially on the glass -improving properties of alkali metal salts, leased (along with James Taylor and Samuel Skey ) 1772-1778 a glass melt in Amblecoate and then took a leading place in Matthew Boulton's Soho Manufactory Factory. The experiences that he made in this work were very helpful for him when he in 1780 a factory in Tipton for the production of alkali metal salts founded, which he later in a soap factory converted ( the alkali metal salts were an integral part of the soap). By Keir's methods, it was possible to produce soap at such low sales prices that a full coverage of the poor population was also possible with soap first. Thus, not only the economic success of the company was secured but Keir was also a pioneer of the straight burgeoning hygiene movement in England.

As a scientific masterpiece Keir's true On the crystalization Observed in glass, a paper on crystallization behavior of glass, which was published in 1776 in the Philosophical Transactions.

Keir was chosen with special mention of this writing on December 8, 1785 Member of the Royal Society. The undersigned advocates its inclusion include Joseph Priestley, Josiah Wedgwood and John Whitehurst.

James Keir died in 1820 at his estate in West Bromwich. His grave is located in Mont Charles in the graveyard of All Saints Church. In Birmingham remember " moonstones " to him as to his colleagues of the Lunar Society. Since his manuscripts were destroyed in a house fire in 1845, he and his work have been handed down almost exclusively by the testimony of his contemporaries. His formula for alkali glass, the industrial production had made him rich, he took to his grave.