Daniel Rutherford 1749 - 1819

occupation:
Chemist, Physician
Nationality:
Scottish, British
born in:
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Educated at the University of Edinburgh, as a student, he isolated nitrogen in 1772 and described oxygen, or “vital air” as he called it, in 1778. In 1786, he was appointed Regius Professor of Botany in Edinburgh and as Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, after the death of Professor John Hope (1725–86). Rutherford held these posts until his death.