With Scant "On Topic" News -- One More Tangent: The Father Of Modern Chemistry, Beheaded This Day -- In Paris, May 8, 1794.

Let us stipulate at the top: Antoine Lavoisier was born into money. He was a French aristocrat, from the go. And in the end, that is probably why he was executed at age 50. But his immense advancements in the sciences, chemistry in particular, are why I write to commemorate him, today. [I don't think we've covered him before here.]

It is not too much of an exaggeration to say that much of what pharmaceutical sciences have achieved in the ensuing three plus centuries. . . stems directly from his pioneering work. Rather than focusing on his untimely demise, in a time of mob-rule, let us remember his achievements (via easy Wikipedia!):

. . .It is generally accepted that Lavoisier's great accomplishments in chemistry stem largely from his changing the science from a qualitative to a quantitative one. Lavoisier is most noted for his discovery of the role oxygen plays in combustion. He named oxygen (1778), recognizing it as an element, and also recognized hydrogen as an element (1783), opposing the phlogiston theory.

Lavoisier helped construct the metric system, wrote the first extensive list of elements, and helped to reform chemical nomenclature. He predicted the existence of silicon (1787) and discovered that, although matter may change its form or shape, its mass always remains the same. His wife and laboratory assistant, Marie-Anne Paulze Lavoisier, became a renowned chemist in her own right. . . .

[Just for the record, the ultimate charge by the revolutionaries -- accusing him of tax fraud, by selling "adulterated" tobacco, was completely trumped up -- and for that, he was put to death.]

Onward, smiling a slightly sad, soaked sort of smile. . . do be excellent to one another. Now you know.

नमस्ते