Georges Ville

Georges Ville (23 March 1824 – 22 February 1897) was a French <a href="/facts/Agronomist/9EvBW7jo">agronomist</a> and <a href="/facts/Plant_physiologist/zAh2o1Ao">plant physiologist</a> born in <a href="/facts/Pont-Saint-Esprit/f0NIN0tv">Pont-Saint-Esprit</a>.
In 1843 he started his career as an interne in <a href="/facts/Pharmacy/P2KTFVdW">pharmacy</a>. From 1857 to 1897 he held the chair of Physique végétale at the <a href="/facts/Mus%25C3%25A9um_national_d%2527histoire_naturelle/eJBwetJD">Muséum national d'histoire naturelle</a> in <a href="/facts/Paris/DrNHpwnA">Paris</a>.
He is known for his research involving the absorption of <a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">nitrogen</a> by plants. In 1849-1852 he carried out experiments on nitrogen absorption from the air by plants that reasserted 18th century theories espoused by <a href="/facts/Joseph_Priestley/hQGV26wA">Joseph Priestley</a> and <a href="/facts/Jan_Ingenhousz/L0oQdN70">Jan Ingenhousz</a>, stating that plants were capable of absorbing free nitrogen, a claim that was later opposed by <a href="/facts/Nicolas-Th%25C3%25A9odore_de_Saussure/lnQpe0CE">Nicolas-Théodore de Saussure</a> in 1804 and backed up by the experiments of <a href="/facts/Jean_Senebier/RhqDcSUN">Jean Senebier</a> (1742-1809). The subject garnered enough interest in the scientific community that the <a href="/facts/French_Academy_of_Sciences/zF42DYQv">French Academy of Sciences</a> formed a committee to investigate Ville's work, resulting in a confirmation of his experiments on the matter.
He performed extensive pioneer studies on <a href="/facts/Chemical_fertilizers/ysh3r6NJ">chemical fertilizers</a>, largely carried out on his "experimental farm" (Ferme Georges-Ville) that was founded in 1860 at <a href="/facts/Vincennes/KC2r5fYw">Vincennes</a>.

Georges Ville open-in-new

Georges Ville