Tribute to the chemist Antoni de Martí i Franquès

Last Sunday, November 14, 2021, representatives from ICIQ, the Catalan Society of Chemistry (SCQ) and the Altafulla city council unveiled a plaque in “Recognition of historical sites representative of chemistry in the Catalan-speaking territory” to honour the chemist Antoni de Martí i Franquès.

The idea behind the SCQ’s call is that there are locations across Europe with commemorative plaques to honour important scientific events. However, few of these sites are related to chemistry. Therefore, the SCQ, ICIQ and the City Council of Altafulla perceive this recognition as an excellent opportunity to promote Chemistry among the people of Tarragona.

The location honoured is the building popularly known as “L’Hospital”, in Plaça del Pou d’Altafulla, where Antoni de Martí i Franquès had his studio-laboratory. The property is now owned by the Altafulla City Council, which has a project to revitalize the scientist’s memory in the places where he lived and carried out experiments. After the unveiling, the participants enjoyed a guided tour of the places in Atlafulla where Antoni de Martí i Franquès worked and lived.

About Antoni de Martí i Franquès

Antoni de Martí i Franquès (1750 – 1832) was from Altafulla, and a key figure in the history of Chemistry. A contemporary of Lavoisier, he established and validated a method for measuring the chemical composition of air. He was related to other European scientists of the time and is one of the most prominent scientists in the phenomenon called “The revolution of Chemistry” of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. His studies and scientific observations are still valid today. Yet, unfortunately, his figure and contributions are relatively unknown in our territory.