Josep Roura i Estrada

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Emili Casals Camps: Josep Roura explains his invention of gas lighting to the Spanish kings.

Josep Roura i Estrada (born April 9, 1797 in Sant Feliu de Guíxols , † May 25, 1860 in Barcelona ) was a Catalan chemist.

Roura graduated from the University of Montpellier with a degree in humanities and chemistry in 1820 . During the brief return of the University of Cervera to Barcelona in 1823, Roura was Professor of Chemistry in Barcelona. Roura completed advanced studies in France and Holland. In 1826 he received the chair of chemistry at the Junta de Comerç (Chamber of Commerce) of Barcelona.

In 1824, Roura was the first to attempt to set up gas lighting in cities in the Catalan countries. In 1826 he publicly demonstrated gas lighting in Barcelona. In 1832 he did the same in Madrid on the occasion of the birth of Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain . However, the Barcelona City Council did not install public gas lighting until 1841.

Roura later devoted himself to oenological topics. In 1839 he published the work Memoria sobre los vinos y su destilación (Thoughts on wine and its distillation). In 1846 he discovered the so-called “white powder”, also known as “roura powder”. This was an explosive that was much stronger than the previously known "black powder". This new type of explosive was also used by the Spanish army.

Roura was a member of the Reial Acadèmia de Ciències i Arts de Barcelona (Academy of Sciences and Arts). He was a teacher and later director of the Escola Industrial de Barcelona (School of Industrial Technology Barcelona).

literature

  • Enciclopèdia Catalana: Roura i Estrada, Josep . In: Gran enciclopèdia catalana. 2nd edition 3rd reprint 1992. Volume 20 . Enciclopèdia catalana, Barcelona 1987, ISBN 84-7739-021-5 , p. 41 (Catalan).
  • Enciclopèdia.cat: Josep Roura i Estrada. July 8, 2018, accessed July 8, 2018 (Catalan).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The daily life data are given according to the Catalan Wikipedia article and are also recorded there.
personal data
SURNAME Roura i Estrada, Josep
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Catalan chemist
DATE OF BIRTH April 9, 1797
PLACE OF BIRTH Sant Feliu de Guíxols
DATE OF DEATH May 25, 1860
Place of death Barcelona