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Priestly, Joseph

1733-1804



English clergyman and scientist, known for his discovery of oxygen. He laid the foundation for that branch of science which we now call Chemistry.

He discovered several new gaseous compounds, one of which he called 'dephlogisticated air'. He described his finding to Lavoisier, who recognized its importance, deducing that it is a chemical element, naming it oxygen in 1789.

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