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Willem van Barneveld (1974-1826), chemist and revolutionary in service of the common good
The experimental research of nature in Amsterdam was mainly practiced by ordinary citizens, who joined forces in various societies. Willem van Barneveld (1747-1826) as a pharmacist, was trained to make medicines, but he went much further: he also sought new means to improve the economy and possibilities to prevent diseases. His work is a sign of his tremendous drive. In his societies he was active within a larger group of nature researchers engaged in seeking ways to improve the general well-being during a period that greatly increased the differences between rich and poor in the Dutch Republic. This led to a politicization process in which researchers like Van Barneveld joined the patriotic faction. Their efforts to improve the general well-being were accompanied by the pursuit of a new political system and as a result he also grabbed the weapons. He took part in the Patriottic (1787) and Batavian (1795) Revolutions. Part of his environment of experimental nature researchers made the same choice. In this article, I take Van Barneveld as a case to demonstrate the merging of scientific and political renewal in this period of great chemical discoveries.