BERZELIUS, JONS JACOB. - Swedish chemist, b. at Väversunda on 20 Aug. 1779, d. at Stockholm on 2 Aug. 1848. Through scientific industry, experimental precision, and fertile genius he surpassed all chemists of his time, making important contributions in every field of theoretical and practical chemistry (determination of atomic weights, discovery of new elements, creation of chemical nomenclature, theory of radicals, etc.). He wrote the first great treatise on chemistry that served as a model for all who came after, and published annual reports on the progress of this science, in which he subjected the chemical works being published to objective criticism.
Born poor, he led a modest life; the son of a Protestant pastor, he was religious in spirit. In his treatise on chemistry he openly declared his faith in God the Creator, deduced from the purposefulness evident in every element of nature; and he branded atheism as an illogical theory incapable of explaining the facts established by science.