Jan Ingenhousz

Jan Ingenhousz
Born8 December 1730
Breda, Staats-Brabant, Dutch Republic
Died7 September 1799 (aged 68)
Calne, Wiltshire, Great Britain
NationalityDutch
Alma materCatholic University of Leuven
Known forPhotosynthesis
Scientific career
FieldsPhysiology

Jan Ingenhousz FRS (8 December 1730 – 7 September 1799) was a Dutch-British[1] physiologist, biologist and chemist.

He is best known for discovering photosynthesis by showing that light is essential to the process by which green plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.[2][3][4] He also discovered that plants, like animals, have cellular respiration.[5] In his lifetime he was known for successfully inoculating the members of the Habsburg family in Vienna against smallpox in 1768 and subsequently being the private counsellor and personal physician to the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa.[6]

  1. ^ "Jan Ingenhousz | Biography, Experiments, & Facts | Britannica". 14 March 2024.
  2. ^ Beale and Beale, Echoes of Ingen Housz, 2011 (full biography)
  3. ^ Gest, Howard (2000). "Bicentenary homage to Dr Jan Ingen-Housz, MD (1730–1799), pioneer of photosynthesis research". Photosynthesis Research. 63 (2): 183–90. doi:10.1023/A:1006460024843. PMID 16228428. S2CID 22970505.
  4. ^ Geerd Magiels, Dr. Jan Ingenhousz, or why don't we know who discovered photosynthesis, 1st Conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association 2007
  5. ^ Howard Gest (1997). "A 'misplaced chapter' in the history of photosynthesis research; the second publication (1796) on plant processes by Dr Jan Ingen-Housz, MD, discoverer of photosynthesis. A bicentenniel 'resurrection'" (PDF). Photosynthesis Research. 53: 65–72. doi:10.1023/A:1005827711469. S2CID 24276112.
  6. ^ Ingen Housz JM, Beale N, Beale E (2005). "The life of Dr Jan Ingen Housz (1730–99), private counsellor and personal physician to Emperor Joseph II of Austria". J Med Biogr. 13 (1): 15–21. doi:10.1177/096777200501300106. PMID 15682228. S2CID 26903822.