2-888-658 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late M. Gay-Lussac, 1850. Portrait of the French chemist and physicist. '. The war-balloon which had been employed by the French army in Egypt was given to the custody of MM. Biot and Gay-Lussac, and refitted...under their direction....They ascended from Parish August 23, 1804, and made a number of very interesting experiments at various heights, ranging from 6,500 to 13,000 feet. On September 15, in the same year, M. Gay-Lussac made a second ascent, and reached the great height of four miles and a quarter; he brought down with him from this elevation a flask of air, which, on analysis, was found to be exactly the same as the air collected near the surface of the earth...Few men have led such a life of scientific industry as M. Gay-Lussac. There is scarcely a branch of physical or chemical science to which he has not contributed some important discovery'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850.