Michel Jean Jérôme Dizé. Chemical revolution and social injustice

Abstract

The name of Michel Jean Jérôme Dizé (1764-1852) is intertwined with that of Nicolas Le Blanc (1742-1806) in the Greek tragedy about the birth and infancy of the industry of synthetic sodium carbonate. He was actively involved in most of the failed intents to obtain an indemnification for the heavy losses incurred as a consequence of the expropriation of the factory by the Revolutionary French government. Contrary to Le Blanc, who committed suicide, Dizé succeeded in extricating himself from the tragedy and live a full professional life thereafter. He was not an outstanding scientific figure, but his name is associated with the question of paternity of the chemical process that led to synthetic carbonate, and his claims for part of the benefits.