Overview

John French (1616-1657) was an English physician known for his contributions to chemistry (in particular, distillation) as well as for his English translations of Latin and German works. John French is chiefly remembered for publishing in 1651 The Art of Distillation, which is possibly the earliest detailed book on distillation. It is thought to be representative of the English chemistry of this period. This R.A.M.S. Library of Alchemy edition includes more than 40 meticulously restored illustrations from the 1651 edition, and footnotes to help guide the student of Alchemy. It is essential to the study of Alchemy that every student master the basic principles explained herein, and in particular the Four Degrees of Fire and the Terms of Art as defined in Book 1.