(Born: Paris, France, 13 February 1672; Died: Paris, France, 6 January 1731) French apothecary & chemist.

Geoffroy was the fifth generation of a prominent family of Parisian apothecaries that extended back to 1584. He learned the trade from his father, and was further inspired by the many scientists that visited the family residence. He attended the University in Montpellier where he attended courses at the medical school without matriculating. Returning to Paris in 1694, he became a master apothecary, later turning his attention to the study of medicine. He earned the bachelor's degree in Paris in 1702, and eventually graduated M.D. at Paris in 1704. This was followed by a succession of positions at a number of institutions around Paris: 1707, demonstrator at the Jardin du Roi. 1709-1731, professor of medicine at the Collège Royal. 1712, lecturer in chemistry at the Jardin du Roi. 1712-1730, professor of chemistry at the Jardin du Roi. 1715, pensionnaire chemist the the Académie. 1726/7-1728/9, dean of the Paris Faculty of Medicine.

Biographical references: ABF: I 446, 295-312. • Catalogue of Portraits of Naturalists: 473 [3 portraits listed]. • DBF: 15, 1134-5. • Dorveaux, P., "Étienne-François Geoffroy", Revue d'Histoire de la Pharmacie, 2, (1931), 118-26. • Feller, Biographie Universelle, 1851. • Fontenelle, B. de, "Éloge de M. Geoffroy," in: Histoire de l'Académie royale des sciences for 1731. (publ. 1733), p. 93-100. • Nouvelle Biographie Générale (Hoefer). • Poggendorff: 1, cols. 873-4. • Schaedler, Biographisch Handwörterbuch, 1891: 40. • WBI.

1. English, 1736.
A | Treatise | of the | Fossil, Vegetable, and Animal Substances. | That are made Use of in | Physick. | Containing | The History and Description of them; | with an | Account of their several Virtues and Preparations. | To which is Prefixed, | An Enquiry into the constituent | Principles of Mixed Bodies, | and | The proper Methods of Discovering the | Nature of Medicines. | [rule] | By the late Steph. Fr. Geoffroy, M.D. | [...3 lines of titles and memberships...] | Translated from a Manuscript Copy of the | Author's Lectures, read at Paris. | [rule] | By G. Douglas, M.D. | [double rule] | London: | Printed for W. Innys and R. Manby, the West End of | St. Paul's; T. Woodward, between the two Temple | Gates, Fleet-street; and C. Davis, in Pater-noster Row. | [rule] | M DCC XXXVI.

8°: A⁸ b⁴ B-Cc⁸; [i]-xxiv, [1]-387, [13] p., index. Page 140 as `40.'

Contents: [i-ii], Title page, verso blank.; [iii]-xii, "Preface."; [xiii]-xxiv, "The Contents."; [1]-387, Text.; [13 pgs], "The Index."

Very rare. This work is a translation and first appearance of a portion of the lectures on materia medica given by Geoffroy at the College Royal in Paris. Also included is an abbreviated version of Fontenelle's Elogie (1st ed., Paris, 1731).

Other editions: Latin translation, Paris, 1741, 3 vols. Also, Venice, 1742, 1756-60 and 1791.

Bibliographical references: BL [958.c.8.]. • Cole, Chemical Literature, 1988: no. 517. • Edelstein, Catalog of the History of Chemistry, 1981: 970. • English Review. • LKG: XVII 86. • Neu, Chemical, Medical & Pharmaceutical Books, 1965: no. 1603. • NLM 18th Century Books (Blake): 172. • NUC [NG 0126356]. • Partington, History of Chemistry, 1961-70: 3, 50. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 1, 452 [other editions]. • Wellcome Catalog (Books): 3, 105.

2. Latin, 1742-56 [First edition].
Tractatus de materia medica.sive de medicamentorum simplicium, Historia, virtute, delectu & usu.Tomus primus: De fossilibus, & de vegetabilibus exoticis, Tomus secundus: De vegetabilibus indigenis; Supplementum Tractatus de materia medica. Tomi secundi pars altera: De vegetabilibus indigenis, virtute, delectu, & usu autore Stephano-Francisco Geoffroy. Venetiis, Apud Nicolaum Pezzana, 1742-1756.

3 vols. [Vol 1: 1742] 8°: [12], 608 p. [Vol 2: 1756] 8°: [2], xx, 362 p. [Vol 3: 1756] 8°: [6], 442 p.

Very scarce. Edited by E. Chardon de Courcelles. An eloge to Geoffroy authored by Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle [1657-1757]is contained at the beginning of volume one.

Volume contents: Vol 1. De Fossilibus. Vol 2. De Vegetabilibus Exoticis. Vol 3. De Vegetabilibus Indigenis.

Bibliographical references: BL [958.b.11-13.].

3. French, 1743 [French transl.].
Traité | De | La Matiere Medicale | Ou | De L'Histoire, | Des Vertus, Du Choix | Et De l'Usage | Des Remedes Simples. | Par M. Geoffroy, Docteur en Médecines de la | [...5 lines of titles and memberships...] | Traduit en François par M*** Docteur | en Médecines. | Tome Premier, | Contenant la Mineralogie. | [ornament] | A Paris, | Chez Jean De Saint & Charles Saillant, | rue saint Jean de Souavain. | [double rule] | M. DCC. XLIII. | Avec Approbation, & Privilége du Roy.

7 vols. [Vol 1] 12°: 95 p.; 546, [5] p. [Vol 2] 12°: [Vol 3] 12°: [Vol 4] 12°: [Vol 5] 12°: [Vol 6] 12°: [Vol 7] 12°: 478, [7] p. Page size: 165 x 100 mm.

Rare. Translation by the physician Antoine Bergier [c1704-1748] of Tractatus de Materia Medica (3 vols., Venetiis, 1742-56). The first volume of which contains Geoffroy's descriptions of minerals used in pharmacy. Included are discussions of the chemical relationships between various substances, and the use in simple remedies of a diverse group of minerals, such as gold, azurite, calcite, talc, mineral waters, various precious and semiprecious stones, etc.

Volume contents: Vol 1. La Mineralogie (preceded by an eloge to M. Geoffroy by M. de Fontenelle, pp. 9-17). Vols 2-4. Traité des Vegetaux, Section I. Des Medicamens Exotiques. Vols 5-7. Traité des Vegetaux, Section II. Des Plantes de Notre Pays.

Bibliographical references: BL. • NUC.

4. German, 1761 [German transl.].
Abhandlung von der Materia medica oder von der Kenntniß, der Kraft, der Wahl und dem Gebrauch einfacher Arzneymittel ... aus dem Lateinischen und Französischen übersetzt. Nebst einer Vorrede D. Christian Gottlieb Ludwigs ... Leipzig, bey Carl Ludwig Jacobi. Leipzig, bey Christian Gottlob Hilschern, 1760-65

8 parts. [Part 1: 1760] 8°: 232, 464, [4] p. (Von den Foßilien). [Part 2: 1761] 8°: 1188 p. (Von den ausländischen Pflanzen). [Part 3: 1761] 8°: [8], 1286 p. (Von den innländischen Pflanzen). [Part 4: 1762] 8°: [14], 506 p. (Von den innländischen Pflanzen). [Part 5: 1763] 8°: 450, [4] p. (Von den innländischen Pflanzen). [Part 6: 1763] 8°: [8], 882 p. (Von den Thieren). [Part 7: 1764] 8°: 769, [4] p. (Von den Thieren). [Part 8: 1765] 8°: 353, 164 p. (Von den vierfüßigen Thieren).

Rare. Tractatus de materia medica Anmerkung: [Aus dem Lateinischen und Französischen übersetzt].Christian Gottlieb Ludwig *1709-1773*

Bibliographical references: BL.

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