(Fig. 9.8). Apart from smaller funds from the university to cover the running costs
of the laboratory, Bergman had to rely on the fees from students for his income. In
addition, Bergman had to compete for students and money with the Board of
Mine’s laboratory in Stockholm and it’s director Gustaf von Engeström, and also
with his former competitor Tidström, who remained as an assistant after Bergman’s
appointment and gave his own competing lectures until his death in 1779 [68].
Bergman also inherited Wallerius’ amanuensis Wibom [69]. As will be seen
(Sect. 9.6), Bergman took the competition with von Engeström very seriously.
Bergman was inaugurated as a professor at the university with a lecture on the
history of chemistry [70]. With little chemical experience but a talent for literature
studies, it was certainly a suitable topic for Bergman. Ten years later, Bergman
would reuse the text in a dissertation, On the Origin of Chemistry, defended by one
Fig. 9.8 A receipt of the
payment of Bergman’s salary
for 1777. Photo Uppsala
University Library
9.3 Bergman is Appointed Professor
125