Johann Sebastian von Clais

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Johann Sebastian von Clais

Johann Sebastian von Clais (born February 28, 1742 in Hausen im Wiesental ; † September 24, 1809 in Winterthur ) was a German - Swiss watchmaker, inventor, entrepreneur, royal Bavarian real secret court chamber councilor, salt works superintendent and mine director.

Life

The Clais family had been based in Hausen im Wiesental in Baden since the 1710s , where his grandfather Johann Sebastian had already worked as an eagle innkeeper and baker through his marriage to Magdalena Brunner. In 1741 the father Johann Sebastian took over the business, which he ran with his wife Anna Maria Neff from Tumringen . Johann Sebastian von Clais was born on February 28, 1742 in Hausen im Wiesental. A bankruptcy in 1752 made it necessary for the heavily indebted family to move to Schopfheim , where the father found a livelihood as a baker. Around 1760 his father became a schoolmaster in Eichen , 1766 in Neuenweg and finally in 1774 in Badenweiler .

Johann Sebastian von Clais had four sisters, Verena Söhnlin, Anna Maria Helminger and the unmarried Magdalena and Katharina.

education

After his school days at the end of the 1750s, the young Johann Sebastian was trained as a watchmaker by his sovereign, the Margrave Karl Friedrich von Baden (1728–1811), in Zurich to become guild master Hans Conrad Pfenninger (1725–1776), who later became bailiff of Eglisau cleverly. His journeyman years led von Clais to Paris at the behest of the margraves. From 1770 he was introduced to London society by the agent of Margrave Johann Rodolph de Valltravers (* 1723). Clais dealt with the achievements of the beginning industrialization and met James Watt and in particular Benjamin Huntsman (1704–1776), the inventor of cast steel, and his son William (1733–1809), with whom he was friends. He invented an index scale, for which he was awarded in 1771 by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce . While traveling through England he carried out orders, mostly the procurement of exhibits or machines for the collection of the margrave and his wife Karoline Luise von Hessen-Darmstadt and acquired extensive knowledge of mechanical engineering, hydraulic engineering and mining.

In Baden service

His sponsor Karl Friedrich von Baden appointed Clais as Hofmechanicus in Baden in 1772. The factory for the production of English steel, founded in 1774, ended in failure.

Early Winterthur ventures

Through the madder trade of Countess Karoline Luise, von Clais came into contact with her customers in Winterthur in 1776, where Dr. med. Johann Heinrich Ziegler and Hans Jakob Sulzer zum Tiger founded Switzerland's first chemical factory, the laboratory . From 1777, Johann Sebastian von Clais and Ziegler were responsible for the technical issues of the company, which produced vitriol oil ( sulfuric acid ), salt spirit, alum, soda and others in the Neuwiesen district of Winterthur . The factory was the first of its kind in Switzerland and in the first half of the 19th century it grew into the largest Swiss chemical company of that time until it had to close in 1854.

In the service of Bern

At the beginning of 1778, the Bern government was looking for a mining specialist to improve the Bern iron mines in Oberhasli and Biberstein. In August Johann Sebastian von Clais was commissioned to carry out the relevant investigations, whereupon he submitted his suggestions in December. As a result, he was entrusted with their execution for four years, with the title of senior director of the iron mine in Ärgeu .

From 1779, von Clais also worked on the conversion of the brewhouses of the Aigle and Bex salt pans on behalf of Bern . In 1781 he improved the brewing pans with his own design. Thanks to the innovations, salt can now be obtained with five instead of three pans while consuming the same amount of wood. There he got to know the salt factor Franz Samuel Wild. This had determined the progressive severity of the hot brine, which was the basis for the two-stage boiling process that was later introduced in Bavaria. Wild's work was published anonymously in 1784 as a contribution to salt studies from Switzerland at Steiner in Winterthur and later incorrectly attributed to Clais.

Salt pans in Bavaria

In the second half of the 18th century, Bern was the largest buyer of salt from Bavaria. In the negotiations for a new salt contract in 1777, Bern particularly criticized the quality of the salt deliveries. After visiting the salt pans in Bad Reichenhall and Traunstein , the Bern negotiating delegation suggested Johann Sebastian von Clais as an expert. Therefore, in the spring of 1782, von Clais obtained an overview of the salt production and presented comprehensive proposals for renewal. After von Clais was also able to regulate the pre-financing through Bern, Elector Karl Theodor (1724–1799) signed him for a period of twenty years. Last but not least, the decisive factor for the conclusion of the contracts was that most of the repayments and commissions for the loans could be made in kind (salt).

The work in Reichenhall from 1782 to 1784 included the construction of a new brewhouse and new brewing pans, which also made better use of the waste heat. Johann Sebastian von Clais introduced the division into two brewing steps: a lot of impurities such as gypsum, lime and organic material were separated out in a smaller hot pan, and the brine was further evaporated in a large, flat pan. The crystallized salt could then be drawn onto the expanded pan edge, the drying area, where it continued to dry using the waste heat from the pan. He constructed the pans from many identical, easily exchangeable, rectangular steel sheets, which greatly reduced repair times. The new process made it possible to produce 55,000 t more salt while at the same time saving 5,000 fathoms of wood, which corresponded to a quarter of the amount of wood previously required.

The innovations worked so well that the electoral court chamber was satisfied, although the work with 100,000 guilders was around twice as expensive as planned. As a further consequence, Clais received the order to renew the salt works in Traunstein . After Johann Sebastian von Clais succeeded in securing the 100,000 guilders necessary for pre-financing from another salt customer, the Swiss federal government, he received the title of real court counselor and salt works chief commissioner and extensive powers.

“I was at the [Reichenhall] saltworks there for 12 days, all alone with the saltworks director v. Claiss. I now consider this man to be the first among all theoretical and practical hallurists. He has great physical and mathematical knowledge, was 7 years in England, worked a lot with [Benjamin] Franklin, was in France for a long time, owns a rock salt works in Savoy, sulfuric acid factories in Winterthur in Switzerland and is in charge of all Bavarian salt pans. From morning to night I only kept asking questions & I don't know anybody from whom I have ever learned so much through interaction. "

- Alexander von Humboldt

Johann Sebastian von Clais traveled a great deal during his life and also visited Benjamin Franklin in Paris in 1781 when he was in the diplomatic service there.

Salt trading monopoly

After being appointed Bavarian Saline Commissioner, he reorganized the entire salt trade with the Swiss towns of Bern and Zurich. Through his honest, often unselfish actions, Clais earned a position of trust at the court of Karl Theodor. Johann Sebastian Clais and his salt trading company Clais & Co. received the trading monopoly on behalf of Bavaria and also by the Federal Diet so that the salt deliveries could be maintained in the interests of both parties even in the politically difficult times after the French invasion of 1798, while Helveticism and mediation were in place .

New home in Winterthur

" Villa Lindengut " in Winterthur

From 1783, von Clais had coal mined near Elgg for his chemical company. As a result of this and through contacts from de Valltravers, the Zurich government became aware of him when they were looking for a mining specialist for coal mining in the Käpfnach coal mine . In 1784 coal mining began there under his direction.

On January 24, 1784, Johann Sebastian von Clais married Maria Ursula Sulzer (1766–1813), the daughter of his business friend Hans Jakob Sulzer zum Tiger and his long-time pen friend Anna Katharina Sulzer. The marriage produced three children who reached adulthood: Maria Katharina (1787–1844), married to JJ Ernst, Susanna (1789–1853), married to Salomon Hegner , and Karl Sebastian (1800–1858). By marrying he snubbed his other Winterthur partner, Johann Heinrich Ziegler, who had also made himself hopeful of becoming Clais' father-in-law.

Clais had the " Villa Lindengut " built in Winterthur, which he moved into in 1787. In 1793 he was granted the right to be naturalized in Winterthur. His servant Katharina Sulzer-Neuffert met her future husband, Jakob Sulzer, in his house, and both of them played an important role in the early days of what is now Sulzer AG .

Salt pans of Lorraine

The reorganization of the Dieuze saltworks in Lorraine between 1804 and 1806 ended after the disputes with the staff became insoluble and he had to return.

Late Winterthur ventures

Even in the last years of his life he remained active and founded various trading and production companies, so that by 1808 von Clais had become the fifth largest taxpayer in his new home community. After a short illness, von Clais died on September 24, 1809 in Winterthur and found his final resting place in the cemetery near the town church .

Honors

Medal with Johann Sebastian von Clais on the front and the Reichenhall brewhouse on the back
  • Medal of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures & Commerce 1771, as well as the citizenship of the City of London for the index scale
  • Bavarian gold medal 1782, front: portrait of JS von Clais, back: Bad Reichenhall salt works
  • Land law of the city of Zurich 1783
  • Land law of the city of Bern 1787
  • Order with diamonds and the portrait of Maria Theresa and Joseph II.
  • Citizenship of the city of Winterthur April 1, 1794, purchase for 3,000 guilders

Works

  • Badenweyler as a health resort, a contribution to the closer knowledge of its surroundings and especially its lukewarm spring. 1807

literature

  • Hanns Freydank: On the history of the Traunstein salt works in Bavaria. In: Journal for the mining, metallurgy and saltworks in the German Empire. Volume 83, No. 10, 1935, pp. 532-558.
  • Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper-Schlund: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809), a versatile entrepreneur from the early industrial days. Swiss pioneers in business and technology, Volume 52 Miles 1990
  • Markus Lutz : Nekrolog of memorable Swiss from the eighteenth century. Sauerlander, Aarau 1812.
  • Werner Ganz : Johann Sebastian von Clais 1742–1809. Typoscript. Winterthur 1985, available in the Zurich Central Library, the State Archives of the Canton of Zurich and the Winterthur City Library
  • Carl von Clais: Biography of Johann Sebastian von Clais.
  • Gottfried Ziegler: Johann Sebastian Clais. Winterthur 1887
  • Gaston Mayer: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742-1809). Mechanic, montanist, salinist, entrepreneur and supplier of natural produce to Margravine Caroline Louise von Baden. In: Badische Heimat, issue 2/1980, pp. 315-318
  • Johannes Helm: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809). A forgotten genius. In: Das Markgräflerland , issue 1/1968, pp. 12-20. Digitized version of the Freiburg University Library
  • Elmar Vogt: Johann Sebastian Clais - Immigrant Entrepreneur. In: Das Markgräflerland, issue 2/1993, pp. 57–60. Digitized version of the Freiburg University Library
  • Elmar Vogt: Johann Sebastian Clais: Saline specialist from Hausen in Wiesental. In: Das Markgräflerland, Volume 1/1999, pp. 164–171. Digitized version of the Freiburg University Library

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper-Schlund: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809), a versatile entrepreneur from the early industrial days . Swiss pioneers in business and technology, Volume 52, Glarus 1990, pp. 9,10
  2. ^ Regiment book, or small and large councils of the Republic of Zurich. Retrieved December 20, 2018 .
  3. ^ Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper-Schlund: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809), a versatile entrepreneur from the early industrial days . Swiss pioneers in business and technology, Volume 52, Glarus 1990, p. 12
  4. ^ Werner Ganz: Johann Sebastian von Clais 1742-1809. Typoscript Winterthur 1985, p. 7
  5. ^ Werner Ganz: Johann Sebastian von Clais 1742-1809. Typoscript Winterthur 1985, p. 18
  6. ^ Werner Ganz: Johann Sebastian von Clais 1742-1809. Typoscript Winterthur 1985, pp. 13-16
  7. ^ Werner Ganz: Johann Sebastian von Clais 1742-1809. Typoscript Winterthur 1985, p. 22
  8. ^ Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper-Schlund: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809), a versatile entrepreneur from the early industrial days . Swiss pioneers in business and technology, Volume 52, Glarus 1990, p. 40
  9. ^ Hanns Freydank: On the history of the Saline Traunstein in Bavaria. In: Journal for the mining, metallurgy and saltworks in the German Empire. Volume 83, No. 10, 1935, p. 535
  10. ^ Hanns Freydank: On the history of the Saline Traunstein in Bavaria. In: Journal for the mining, metallurgy and saltworks in the German Empire. Volume 83, No. 10, 1935, p. 537
  11. ^ Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper-Schlund: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809), a versatile entrepreneur from the early industrial days . Swiss pioneers in business and technology, Volume 52, Glarus 1990, pp. 51,52
  12. ↑ Alexander von Humboldt : Letter to Johann Carl Freiesleben . Vienna, November 2, 1792.
  13. ^ The Papers of Benjamin Franklin: Volume 41: September 16, 1783, through ... - Benjamin Franklin - Google Books. In: books.google.ch. Retrieved June 24, 2015 .
  14. ^ Werner Ganz: Johann Sebastian von Clais 1742-1809. Typoscript Winterthur 1985, pp. 68,69
  15. ^ Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper: Karl Sebastian von Clais. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland .
  16. ^ Anne-Marie Dubler : Landrechte. In: Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz ., Accessed on May 2, 2014
  17. ↑ a b L. S .: Clais, Johann Sebastian. In: Historical-Biographical Lexicon of Switzerland. Volume 2, Basel-Egnach 1924.
  18. ^ Gertraud and Rudolf Gamper-Schlund: Johann Sebastian Clais (1742–1809), a versatile entrepreneur from the early industrial days . Swiss pioneers in business and technology, Volume 52, Glarus 1990, pp. 68–72
personal data
SURNAME Clais, Johann Sebastian von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German-Swiss watchmaker, inventor, entrepreneur, councilor, saline commissioner and mine director
DATE OF BIRTH February 28, 1742
PLACE OF BIRTH Hausen in Wiesental
DATE OF DEATH September 24, 1809
Place of death Winterthur