Viajes a Francia para el estudio de la química, 1770-1833

Abstract

Scientific travel during late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century Spain has been regarded as an important issue concerning Spanish science. The large number of Spanish chemistry students who travelled to Paris during the Enlightenment seems to have played a mayor role in the transmission of chemical revolution. On the contrary, early nineteenth century scientific exile is usually considered as on of the major causes of the crisis of Spanish science during the nineteenth century. This paper aims to offer a general framework in order to study these group of scientific travellers and some conclusions of a comparative study of several of these biographies. Moreover, new data gathered in several Spanish and French archives is discussed and, as a result, a periodification is suggested.