Joseph Priestley, oxygen, and the enlightenment.

@article{West2014JosephPO,
  title={Joseph Priestley, oxygen, and the enlightenment.},
  author={John B West},
  journal={American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology},
  year={2014},
  volume={306 2},
  pages={
          L111-9
        }
}
  • J. West
  • Published 15 January 2014
  • History
  • American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology
Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) was the first person to report the discovery of oxygen and describe some of its extraordinary properties. As such he merits a special place in the history of respiratory physiology. In addition his descriptions in elegant 18th-century English were particularly arresting, and rereading them never fails to give a special pleasure. The gas was actually first prepared by Scheele (1742–1786) but his report was delayed. Lavoisier (1743–1794) repeated Priestley's initial… 

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