Johan Georg Forchhammer: Danish Pioneer of Geochemistry
Johan Georg Forchhammer (26 July 1794 – 14 December 1865) was a Danish mineralogist and geologist. He formulated Forchhammer’s Principle, establishing that the ratio of major salts in seawater remains constant across different locations worldwide.
Early Life and Education
Forchhammer was born at Husum, Schleswig. He studied at the universities of Kiel and Copenhagen from 1815 to 1818.
Career and Achievements
After completing his studies, Forchhammer joined Hans Christian Ørsted and Lauritz Esmarch in a mineralogical expedition to Bornholm, contributing substantially to their fieldwork. In 1820, he earned his doctorate with a chemical treatise titled De mangano, then traveled through England, Scotland, and the Faroe Islands.
His academic career advanced steadily: in 1823 he became lecturer at Copenhagen University in chemistry and mineralogy; in 1829 he took a similar post at the newly established polytechnic school; and in 1831 he was appointed professor of mineralogy at the university. By 1848 he had become curator of the geological museum. Between 1835 and 1837, he made numerous contributions to Denmark’s geological survey. Following Hans Christian Ørsted’s death in 1851, Forchhammer succeeded him as director of the polytechnic school and secretary of the Academy of Sciences.
From 1850 onward, Forchhammer collaborated with Japetus Steenstrup and Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae on anthropological publications that gained considerable reputation. Beyond pure science, he engaged with practical matters affecting Copenhagen, including the introduction of gas lighting, the establishment of the fire-brigade at Rosenborg, and the boring of artesian wells.
Notable Events and Milestones
In 1865, Forchhammer conjectured that the ratio of major salts in seawater samples from various locations remained constant—a principle later known as Forchhammer’s Principle or the Principle of Constant Proportions. This theory was confirmed in 1884 by Professor William Dittmar, who conducted extensive analysis of seawater samples collected during the Challenger expedition.
Among his significant publications were Danmarks geognostiske Forhold (1835), Om de Bornholmske Kulformationer (1836), Lærebog i de enkelte Radicalers Chemi (1842), Dit myere Kridt i Danmark (1847), and On the Constitution of Sea Water at Different Depths and in Different Latitudes (1862–1863), published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society.
Awards and Honors
Forchhammer became a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters in 1825. He was awarded the Order of the Dannebrog in 1839 and created Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1860. In 1862, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society. In 1863, he was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Additional Resources
Forchhammer’s contributions to mineralogy, geology, and geochemistry remain documented in scientific archives and the Royal Society’s catalogues of scientific papers. Readers seeking deeper biographical and scientific detail may consult Wikipedia and other historical records of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters, which preserve his correspondence and publications.
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