Liebig, Justus von 1803-73
German chemist

Born in Darmstadt, he studied in Bonn, receiving his doctorate for work at Erlangen (1822). This was followed by two years' study in Paris where he learned techniques of analysis from Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac. In 1824 he was appointed Extraordinary Professor at the University of Giessen, where he set up an institute for training chemists based on his experiences in France. During this period he studied the phenomenon of isomerism and he and Friedrich W�hler became close friends. He developed improved procedures for the elemental analyses of organic compounds. In his book Die organische Chemie in Anwendung auf Agricultur und Physiologie (1840, Eng trans Organic Chemistry in its Applications to Agriculture and Physiology, 1840), he described the process we now know as photosynthesis and considered the value of fertilizers. His book attracted great interest and led to a number of improvements in agricultural practice, including the use of ammonium salts as fertilizers. In 1852 he left Giessen for Munich, where he remained until his retirement.