some of his old correspondents within the field of physics, such as Wilson, were
now of less importance. One of Bergman’s first attempts to make contact with
European chemists was with Pierre Macquer in Paris, whom Bergman contacted in
January 1768 [124]. Macquer accepted Bergman’s invitation and the two started to
exchange chemical news. For instance, Bergman mentioned his crystallographic
theories (Sect. 25.9) to Macquer in 1769, years before the paper was published
[124]. Among Bergman’s other chemical contacts were Lorenz Crell (1744–1816),
Louis Bernard Guyton de Mourveau (1737–1816), Richard Kirwan (1833–1812),
and Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) [125]. His friendship with Kirwan is noteworthy,
as Kirwan was very hostile towards Scheele, which will be seen later. Bergman
would, however, apparently never have any contact with Sigismund Marggraf
(1709–1782) in Berlin [126].
In order to have his works more widely spread, Bergman began publishing his
collected works in Latin translation in 1779 as Opuscula physica et chemica
(Physical and Chemical Essays). It is very important to note that the versions that
appear in Opuscula were usually extended and reworked rather than just being
translations or reproductions. It was, for example, the updated Opuscula version of
Bergman’s paper on chemical attractions (Chap. 20) that was translated into English. Bergman’s first intention was to publish the work in Germany and negotiated
with a book dealer in Göttingen, Johan Christian Dietrich, but without result [127].
Thus, Bergman settled with Magnus Swederus (1748–1836), a book dealer and
publisher in Uppsala, who had previously published Bergman’s edition of The
Chemical Lectures of H.T. Scheffer (Sect. 11.1). Swederus was actually an ambitious student who took a chance as there were much complaint with the university
book dealer, Kristian Eberhart Steinert [128]. Swederus thus tried to open a competing book store. The university tried to prevent this, but Swederus registered as a
burgher and got a licence from the city council in 1771. When Steinert died in 1776,
Swederius had no competitor and the univeristy finally accepted Swederus as
university book dealer in 1780. In 1789, however, Swederus left the publishing
business to become a priest in Västerås.
The first volume of Opuscula appeared in 1779, but Bergman was (just like
Scheele, see Sect. 21.3) unsatisfied with Swederus and once again tried to find a
German publisher for the next volume. None of the publishers he approached was,
however, interested in taking up the publication of a work with the second volume.
Bergman was thus forced to publish the second (1780) and third (1783) volume on
his own expense and had large trouble with the European distribution [127].
Volumes four to six were published posthumously in Leipzig in 1787–1790 [129].
Bergman rapidly rose to an important position in European chemistry, and an
indication of this is his membership in European scientific academies. As early as
1764, the same year he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of
Sciences in Stockholm, he was elected a member of Academia Casarea Naturae
Curiosorum in Halle [130]. The following year, he was elected a member of the
prestigious Royal Society in London. After his appointment as professor, he was
elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, presided by Benjamin
Franklin, but apparently, the notification letter did not reach Bergman [130]. The
9.7 Bergman’s European Contacts
145
now of less importance. One of Bergman’s first attempts to make contact with
European chemists was with Pierre Macquer in Paris, whom Bergman contacted in
January 1768 [124]. Macquer accepted Bergman’s invitation and the two started to
exchange chemical news. For instance, Bergman mentioned his crystallographic
theories (Sect. 25.9) to Macquer in 1769, years before the paper was published
[124]. Among Bergman’s other chemical contacts were Lorenz Crell (1744–1816),
Louis Bernard Guyton de Mourveau (1737–1816), Richard Kirwan (1833–1812),
and Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) [125]. His friendship with Kirwan is noteworthy,
as Kirwan was very hostile towards Scheele, which will be seen later. Bergman
would, however, apparently never have any contact with Sigismund Marggraf
(1709–1782) in Berlin [126].
In order to have his works more widely spread, Bergman began publishing his
collected works in Latin translation in 1779 as Opuscula physica et chemica
(Physical and Chemical Essays). It is very important to note that the versions that
appear in Opuscula were usually extended and reworked rather than just being
translations or reproductions. It was, for example, the updated Opuscula version of
Bergman’s paper on chemical attractions (Chap. 20) that was translated into English. Bergman’s first intention was to publish the work in Germany and negotiated
with a book dealer in Göttingen, Johan Christian Dietrich, but without result [127].
Thus, Bergman settled with Magnus Swederus (1748–1836), a book dealer and
publisher in Uppsala, who had previously published Bergman’s edition of The
Chemical Lectures of H.T. Scheffer (Sect. 11.1). Swederus was actually an ambitious student who took a chance as there were much complaint with the university
book dealer, Kristian Eberhart Steinert [128]. Swederus thus tried to open a competing book store. The university tried to prevent this, but Swederus registered as a
burgher and got a licence from the city council in 1771. When Steinert died in 1776,
Swederius had no competitor and the univeristy finally accepted Swederus as
university book dealer in 1780. In 1789, however, Swederus left the publishing
business to become a priest in Västerås.
The first volume of Opuscula appeared in 1779, but Bergman was (just like
Scheele, see Sect. 21.3) unsatisfied with Swederus and once again tried to find a
German publisher for the next volume. None of the publishers he approached was,
however, interested in taking up the publication of a work with the second volume.
Bergman was thus forced to publish the second (1780) and third (1783) volume on
his own expense and had large trouble with the European distribution [127].
Volumes four to six were published posthumously in Leipzig in 1787–1790 [129].
Bergman rapidly rose to an important position in European chemistry, and an
indication of this is his membership in European scientific academies. As early as
1764, the same year he was elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of
Sciences in Stockholm, he was elected a member of Academia Casarea Naturae
Curiosorum in Halle [130]. The following year, he was elected a member of the
prestigious Royal Society in London. After his appointment as professor, he was
elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, presided by Benjamin
Franklin, but apparently, the notification letter did not reach Bergman [130]. The
9.7 Bergman’s European Contacts
145