Paper presents a famous Polish professor, scholar, physician and educator Jędrzej Śniadecki (1768–1838) who, after studies in Italy and Scotland, settled in Lithuania, and gave 40 years of his most active life to Vilnius University. From all publications, the manual of chemistry Początiki Chemii (Origins of Chemistry, 1800), the fundamental philosophical work Teoria Jestestw Organicznych (Theory of Organic Beings, 1804, 1838) brought him the greatest glory. Sniadecki was a pioneer in the field of biochemistry and pediatry.

1. A CHEMISTRY OF LIFE AND SCIENCE:
PROFESSOR JĘDRZEJ ŚNIADECKI AT
VILNIUS UNIVERSITY
Dr. Birutė Railienė
Wroblewski Library of the
Lithuanian Academy of Sciences
European Society for the History of Science
Biennial Conference 2018
London, 14-17 September
Theme: Unity and Disunity
Paper was prepared and presented with a support of
Lithuanian Council for Culture
and
Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences

2. Nostris temporibus uti rerum ita et
verborum simplicitas placet
Our time prefers simplicity of science
and words
Jedrzej Sniadecki
(1768–1838)

4. Jedrzej Sniadecki.
A short bio–chronology
• 1768 born in Żnin, Poland
• 1787–1791 studies in mathematics and
medicine at Krakow
University, Poland
• 1792–1793 studies in medicine at Pavia
University, Italy
• 1793–1795 studies in medicine at
Edinburgh University,
Scotland, medical practice in
London
• 1795 medical practice in Milan, Italy
• 1797 Chair of the Department of
Chemistry at Vilnius University

5. Jedrzej Sniadecki.
A short bio–chronology
• 1800 Origins of Chemistry vol 1–2.
• 1803 Memorial of Therapy Clinics
• 1804 Theory of Organic Beings, vol 1.
• 1805 Notes about Physical Education
of Children
• 1806 elected to chair Vilnius Medical
Society
• 1808 discovered a new element Vestium
• 1811 Theory of Organic Beings, vol 2.
• 1819 elected to chair The Society
Szubrawcy (Society of Rascals)
• 1822 retired

6. Jedrzej Sniadecki.
A short bio–chronology
• 1827 returned to chair the
Clinics of Therapy at
Vilnius University
• 1834 rector of the Medical-
Surgery Academy in
Vilnius (May 15–August 15)
• 1836 elected to chair Vilnius
Medical Society (for 8th
time)
• 1838 died in Vilnius, buried at
Horodniki, Belorus.
• 1838 Theory of Organic Beings,
vol 1–3.

11. Books, articles in newspapers, manuscripts
at libraries In: www.andrewsniadecki.org

12. Vilnius University headquarters, where
Sniadecki worked
• http://www.veidas.lt/wp-content/uploads/vu881.jpg

13. Chapel on the road, on the last journey to
Boltup, Liepkalnio str., Vilnius

14. Memorial plate in the courtyard at the
Vilnius University

15. Special acknoledgements:
Sponsors of the website Jedrzej
Sniadecki – Rūta Baranauskienė and
Rimvydas Baranauskas
Sponsor of translation to English of
Theory of Organic Beings –
ThermoFisher Scientific
Thank you