Joseph Black (1728-99) was professor of medicine and chemistry at the University of Edinburgh (early in his career he was at Glasgow). He chemically characterised fixed air (carbon dioxide) and developed the concept of latent heat - but up to now he has been known for little else. Now that a complete edition of his correspondence has been produced, gaps in his scientific career and his social life can be filled in. He taught students from throughout Great Britain, the rest of Europe (including Russia) and from North America. Some of these went on to establish medical schools. Acting as a consultant, he was influential in developing the chemical industry. He was one of a remarkable group of intelligentsia in Enlightenment Scotland: his friends included David Hume, Adam Smith, James Watt and James Hutton. He was a clubbable man and entertained generously at home. We even know the sort of gargantuan meals he served his guests (who may have included, on separate occasions, Dr Johnson and Benjamin Franklin).

Who was the real Joseph Black?

244th National Meeting (2012)

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