Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Bunsen, Robert Wilhelm Eberard
BUNSEN, Robert Wilhelm Eberard, chemist, born March 13, 1811, at Göttingen, where his father was professor of Occidental literature; studied in the university the physical and natural sciences, and completed his education at Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. Having taken his degrees for teaching chemistry at Göttingen in 1833, he succeeded Wöhler three years later as professor of this science in the Polytechnic Institution at Cassel. In 1838 he was appointed Assistant Professor in the University of Marburg; became Titular Professor in 1841, then Director of the Chemical Institute. In 1851 he passed to the University of Breslau, and in 1852 to the University of Heidelberg. Some years ago Professor Bunsen declined a call to Berlin which he received at the same time as Professor Kirchhoff, with whom he is the founder of stellar chemistry. He has made many important discoveries, and the charcoal pile which bears his name is in very extensive use. From the spectrum analysis down to the simplest manipulations of practical chemistry, his luminous discoveries have rendered the most distinguished services to the science which he adorns; but he possesses at the same time the rare gift of being an eminent and most inspiring teacher, and his lessons are attended by students from England and all parts of the Continent. The University of Leyden conferred on him the honorary degree of M.D. in Feb., 1875. In July, 1877, the University of Heidelberg commemorated the 25th anniversary of Professor Bunsen's election to the Chair of Experimental Chemistry. Students of all faculties joined in a torchlight procession, which was followed by the traditional symposium, while a deputation presented the congratulations of the Academical Council. In Jan., 1883, he was appointed one of the eight Foreign Associates of the Paris Academy of Sciences.