John Ferguson

“ It would be therefore unfair to judge from it of the extent of Vigani's knowledge. There is abundant evidence that he knew far more than he has set down in his book, and he has been commended by no less competent a critic than Stahl for his thoroughly practical skill and avoidance of speculation unsupported by experimental proof. In fact he rather avoided theoretical discussions, referring those who felt interested in them to Boyle, while he himself pursued practical investigation. Among other things, Vigani devised a method for purifying sulphate of iron from copper ”

“ VIGANI, JOHN FRANCIS (1650?–1712) , the first professor of chemistry in the university of Cambridge, was born at Verona about the middle of the seventeenth century. He travelled in Spain, France, and Holland, and studied mining, metallurgy, and pharmacy in the countries he visited. ”

“ His long-continued labours and success as a teacher were finally recognised by the university, for in 1703 a grace passed the senate for ‘investing with the title of professor of chemistry John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, who had taught chemistry with reputation in Cambridge for twenty years previously.’ In 1705 he was lecturing on pharmaceutical chemistry at Queens' College, and, if one can rely upon the controversial pamphlets which were called into existence by Dr. ”