Franz Ludwig von Cancrin

Who was Franz Ludwig von Cancrin?

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

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 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 the eminent Russian minister of finance. The mineral of cancrinite is named after him.