Peter Griess
Encyclopedia
Johann Peter Griess industrial chemist and an early pioneer of organic chemistry
.
, but left the military shortly after. He started his studies at the University of Jena in 1850, but changed to the University of Marburg in 1851. During his student life he was several times sentenced for Karzer
and was also banned from the city for one year, in which he listened to lectures of Justus Liebig at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
. After most of the family possession were spent he had to start working at the chemical factory of Oehler in Offenbach am Main in 1856. This was only possible after the recommendation of Hermann Kolbe, who was head of the chemistry department in Marburg. The devastating fire of 1857 ended the production of chemicals at the factory and a changed Peter Griess rejoined Hermann Kolbe at the University of Marburg. His new enthusiasm for chemistry yielded the discovery of diazonium salts in 1858. The discovery of a new class of chemicals convinced August Wilhelm von Hofmann
to offer Peter Griess to join him at his new position at Royal College of Chemistry
. During his time at the Royal College he studied the reactions of nitrogen
rich organic molecules. It took him quite long to accustom to his new home in England but the fact that he married in 1869 and founded a family made clear that he would not return to Germany, even though he was offered a position at the BASF
.
He left and started a position at the Samuel Allsopp & Sons
brewery
in 1862 where he worked until his retirement.
His wife died after a long severe illness in 1886, he survived her for two years and died August 30, 1888. He is buried in Burton upon Trent
.
. Most of his work related to brewing remained confidential, but his additional work on organic chemistry was published by him in several articles.
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
.
Life
After he finished at an agricultural private school, he joined the Hessian cavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, but left the military shortly after. He started his studies at the University of Jena in 1850, but changed to the University of Marburg in 1851. During his student life he was several times sentenced for Karzer
Karzer
A Karzer was a designated lock-up or detention room to incarcerate students for punishment, within a jurisdiction of some institutions of learning in Germany. Karzers existed both at universities and at gymnasiums in Germany until the beginning of the twentieth century. Marburg's last Karzer...
and was also banned from the city for one year, in which he listened to lectures of Justus Liebig at the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , commonly known as the University of Munich or LMU, is a university in Munich, Germany...
. After most of the family possession were spent he had to start working at the chemical factory of Oehler in Offenbach am Main in 1856. This was only possible after the recommendation of Hermann Kolbe, who was head of the chemistry department in Marburg. The devastating fire of 1857 ended the production of chemicals at the factory and a changed Peter Griess rejoined Hermann Kolbe at the University of Marburg. His new enthusiasm for chemistry yielded the discovery of diazonium salts in 1858. The discovery of a new class of chemicals convinced August Wilhelm von Hofmann
August Wilhelm von Hofmann
August Wilhelm von Hofmann was a German chemist.-Biography:Hofmann was born at Gießen, Grand Duchy of Hesse. Not intending originally to devote himself to physical science, he first took up the study of law and philology at Göttingen. But he then turned to chemistry, and studied under Justus von...
to offer Peter Griess to join him at his new position at Royal College of Chemistry
Royal College of Chemistry
The Royal College of Chemistry was a college originally based on Oxford Street in central London, England. It operated between 1845 and 1872....
. During his time at the Royal College he studied the reactions of nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
rich organic molecules. It took him quite long to accustom to his new home in England but the fact that he married in 1869 and founded a family made clear that he would not return to Germany, even though he was offered a position at the BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
.
He left and started a position at the Samuel Allsopp & Sons
Samuel Allsopp & Sons
Samuel Allsopp & Sons was one of the largest brewery companies operating in Burton upon Trent, England.Allsopp’s origins go back to the 1740s, when Benjamin Wilson, an innkeeper-brewer of Burton, brewed beer for his own premises and sold some to other innkeepers...
brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
in 1862 where he worked until his retirement.
His wife died after a long severe illness in 1886, he survived her for two years and died August 30, 1888. He is buried in Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
.
Work
In 1858 he described the Griess diazotization reaction which would form the basis for the Griess test for detection of NitriteNitrite
The nitrite ion has the chemical formula NO2−. The anion is symmetric with equal N-O bond lengths and a O-N-O bond angle of ca. 120°. On protonation the unstable weak acid nitrous acid is produced. Nitrite can be oxidised or reduced, with product somewhat dependent on the oxidizing/reducing agent...
. Most of his work related to brewing remained confidential, but his additional work on organic chemistry was published by him in several articles.