Science Related Monuments: Discovery of Quinine by Pelletier and Caventou - Paris, France

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Monument to the Discovery of Quinine by Pelletier and Caventou

Paris, France

Topic: Science Related Monuments

Discovery of Quinine

Joseph Bienaimé Caventou 

Pierre Joseph Pelletier

GPS: N48° 50.644; E002° 20.351

Quick Description: 

A monument east of the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, France honors Pierre Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou for the first discovery (extraction, isolation, purification and naming) of quinine.

Long Description:

Quinine was first extracted, isolated, purified, and named by French pharmacists and chemists Pierre Joseph Pelletier and Joseph Bienaimé Caventou in 1820. Quinine is derived from the Inca word for the cinchona tree bark, quina or quina-quina, which means "bark of bark" or "holy bark". Quinine is used extensively to prevent malaria.

Quinine enabled Europeans to explore and settle in Africa. Since Europeans do not possess the genetic resistance to malaria found in native African populations. Neither Pierre Joseph Pelletier nor Joseph Bienaimé Caventou patented quinine. They instead released it into the public domain for the benefit of all humanity.

The top of the monument contains a reclining female figure, apparently in distress, and the following inscription on the front:


L'AN 1820 LES
PHARMACIENS
PELLETIER
ET CAVENTOU
FIRENT
LA DECOUVERTE
DE LA QUININE

PAR LEUR PRECIEUSE DECOUVERTE
PAR LEUR DESINTERESSEMENT
ILS ONT MERITE LE TITRE
DE BIENFAITEURS DE L'HUMANITE
One side contains a bronze medallion profile of Pelletier and the inscription:


PELLETIER
PROFESSEUR
A L'ECOLE DE PHARMACIE
1788 - 1842
The other side contains a bronze medallion profile of Caventou and the inscription:


CAVENTOU
PROFESSEUR
A L'ECOLE DE PHARMACIE
1795 - 1877 English translations:


THE YEAR 1820 THE
PHARMACISTS
PELLETIER
AND CAVENTOU
MADE
THE DISCOVERY
OF QUININE

BY THEIR VALUABLE DISCOVERY
BY THEIR SELFLESSNESS
THEY MERIT THE TITLE
BENEFACTORS OF HUMANITY

PELLETIER
PROFESSOR
THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
1788 - 1842

CAVENTOU
PROFESSOR
THE SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
1795 - 1877