Johan Gadolin

Johan Gadolin
Postage stamp depicting Gadolin
Born	(1760-06-05)5 June 1760 Turku, Swedish Finland
Died	15 August 1852(1852-08-15) (aged 92) Mynämäki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
Nationality	Finnish
Known for	Discovering yttrium
Scientific career
Fields	Chemistry

Johan Gadolin (5 June 1760 – 15 August 1852)^[1] was a Finnish chemist, physicist and mineralogist. Gadolin discovered a "new earth" containing the first rare-earth compound yttrium, which was later determined to be a chemical element. He is also considered the founder of Finnish chemistry research, as the second holder of the Chair of Chemistry at the Royal Academy of Turku (or Åbo Kungliga Akademi). Gadolin was ennobled for his achievements and awarded the Order of Saint Vladimir and the Order of Saint Anna.