Page "Jean-Baptiste Boussingault" Paragraph 1

Jean-Baptiste Boussingault-an agricultural scientist and chemist of importance-was born in Paris.

After studying at the school of mines at Saint-Etienne he went to Alsace to work in the asphalt mines-a two year interlude that was to shape his contributions to science.

Then, little more than twenty years old, he went to South America as a mining engineer on behalf of an English company.

During the insurrection of the Spanish colonies he was attached to the staff of General Bolivar and traveled widely in the northern parts of the continent, climbing to a new highest altitude by a Western explorer on Chimborazo in the process.

Contrary to earlier Encyclopædia Britannica entries, his greatest contributions were in biological and related applied fields.