Franz Ludwig von Cancrin


Franz Ludwig von Cancrin was a German mineralogist, metallurgist, architect and writer.

Life

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-Kassel at Hanau, becoming professor of mathematics at the military academy, head of the civil engineering department of the state, director of the theatre and of the mint. A work on the copper mines of Elesse 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- und Salzwerkskunde, has been translated into several languages.
His son, Count Georg von Cancrin, or Kankrin, was an eminent Russian minister of finance and the liaison with Alexander von Humboldt during his 1829 scientific expedition to Russia. The mineral of cancrinite is named after him.

Main works

  • , Frankfurt, 1765Beschreibung der vorzüglichsten Bergwerke in Hessen, in dem Waldekkischen, an dem Haarz, in dem Mansfeldischen, in Chursachsen, und in dem Saalfeldischen.
  • , Frankfurt, 1773Gründliche Anleitung zur Schmelzkunst und Metallurgie, 1784Stoische Sentenzen, Moralen und politische Einfälle etc., 1785Geschichte und systematische Beschreibung der in der Grafschaf Hanau Muenzenberg, in dem Amte Bieber und anderen Aemtern dieser Grafschaft benachbarten Laendern gelegenen Bergwerke. 1787.Grundzüge der Berg- und Salzwerkskunde. 12 vol. Frankfurt 1778–1791.
  • , 1790.Von der Zubereitung des Roheisens zu Schmiedeeisen, 1790.Grundlehre der bürgerlichen Baukunst, 1790.
  • , Frankfurt, 1791Einzelne Bauschriften, 2 vol., 1791–1792.
  • , Giessen 1792
  • , Giessen, 1792.
  • , Warburg, 1796.Bewährte Anweisung Schornsteine feuerfest zu bauen, wie auch Stubenöfen nach russischer Art zu verbessern, Leipzig 1797.
  • , Riga, 1797.Abhandlungen von dem Wasserrechte, sowohl dem natürlichen, als positiven, vornehmlich aber dem deutschen, Halle, 1789–1800.Wie man das beste Eisen erhalten kann, 1800.
  • . Giessen 1805.