Friedrich Accum
German chemist (1769-1838) · Scientists · Died at 69
Friedrich Christian Accum or Frederick Accum was a German chemist, whose most important achievements included advances in the field of gas lighting, efforts to keep processed foods free from dangerous additives, and the promotion of interest in the science of chemistry to the general populace.
Friedrich Accum is read about 13 times a day, in 17 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 15 June 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 60 days, one point a day.
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Photos 7
Friedrich Accum in his youth. Black and white reproduction of an oil painting by Accum's brother-in-law Wilhelm Strack.![Chemical Lectures, contemporary caricature by Thomas Rowlandson. The inscription Surrey Institution on the door frame and the title Accum’s Lectures on the dust jacket held by the man sitting on the left under the corner both indicate that this image likely depicts Accum.[13]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Rowlandson_-_Chemical_Lectures.jpg/1280px-Rowlandson_-_Chemical_Lectures.jpg)
Chemical Lectures, contemporary caricature by Thomas Rowlandson. The inscription Surrey Institution on the door frame and the title Accum’s Lectures on the dust jacket held by the man sitting on the left under the corner both indicate that this image likely depicts Accum.[13]
The first London gasworks 1814. Plate from Accum's A Practical Treatise on Gas Light (1815). The retorts are set transversely, directly under the chimney; the gasometer is on the left.
“There is death in the pot” − Cover of Accum's book A Treatise on Adulterations of Food and Culinary Poisons (1820)
Black and white photograph of an oil painting by Samuel Drummond, from London.
Title page: "Von der Verfälschung der Nahrungsmittel und von den Küchengiften", 1822About this person
From 1793 to 1821 Accum lived in London. Following an apprenticeship as an apothecary, he opened his own commercial laboratory enterprise. His business manufactured and sold a variety of chemicals and laboratory equipment. Accum, himself, gave fee-based public lectures in practical chemistry and collaborated with research efforts at numerous other institutes of science.
