François Sulpice Beudant
A 19th-century French scientist who systematized mineralogy with his influential textbooks and left his name on a rare mineral species.
1787–1850 (age 63)·French mineralogist and geologist·Birthday: September 5
Biography
François Sulpice Beudant operated in the golden age of descriptive earth science, a contemporary of giants like Cuvier. While not a radical theorist, his impact was foundational through clarity and synthesis. A professor at the Sorbonne and later the director of studies at the École Polytechnique, he possessed a gift for organization and teaching. His most enduring work, 'Traité élémentaire de Minéralogie', became a standard text, translating the chaotic, growing world of mineral discovery into a logical system for students and colleagues. He traveled extensively through Europe and the Middle East, collecting specimens and data that fed his scholarly work. The mineral beudantite, a complex sulfate, serves as a fitting tribute—a tangible piece of the natural world permanently linked to a man who dedicated his life to cataloging its wonders.
#1 When François Was Born
The biggest hits of 1787
François's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1787Born
1792Started school
1800Became a teenager
1803Could drive
1805Could vote
1808Turned 21
1817Turned 30
1827Turned 40
1837Turned 50
1847Turned 60
1850Died at 63
Key Achievements
- Authored the influential textbook 'Traité élémentaire de Minéralogie' which went through multiple editions.
- Served as the director of studies at the prestigious École Polytechnique in Paris.
- Had the mineral beudantite, a lead-iron arsenate sulfate, named in his honor.
Did You Know?
He also published significant work on the physics of sound and acoustics.
He conducted geological surveys in Hungary, which resulted in a detailed geological map.
His travels for research included destinations like Sicily and the Levant.
“Observe the mineral first; name it only after you know its character.”
