Franz Ludwig von Cancrin

Franz Ludwig von Cancrin (february 21, 1738 - 1812) was a German mineralogist and metallurgist.

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He was born into a German mining family where he was trained by his father in the science of mining. In 1764, he entered the service of the landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt at Hanau, becoming professor of mathematics at the military academy, head of the civil engineering department of the state, director of the theatre and (1774) of the mint. A work on the copper mines of Elesse (1767) earned him a European reputation, and in 1783 he accepted from Catherine II of Russia the directorship of the famous Staraya salt-works, living thenceforth in Russia.

In 1798 he became a councillor of state at St. Petersburg. He published many works on mineralogy and metallurgy, of which the most important, the Grundzüge der Berg- sold Salzwerks kunde (13 vols, 1773-1791), has been translated into several languages. His son, Count Georg von Cancrin, or Kankrin (1774-1845), was the eminent Russian minister of finance. The mineral of cancrinite is named after him.

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.