Basil Valentine

Basil Valentine, an enigmatic figure in the realm of alchemy and chemistry, is often regarded as a pseudonym for one or several authors from the sixteenth century. The name is an Anglicised version of Basilius Valentinus, and while he is purported to have been a Canon of the Benedictine Priory of Saint Peter in Erfurt, Germany, historical records do not substantiate his existence prior to the year sixteen hundred.

John Maxson Stillman, a noted historian of chemistry, pointed out the absence of any evidence linking Basil Valentine to the rolls in Germany or Rome. This suggests that the narrative surrounding Valentine, including his supposed biography and portrait, may have been constructed after the publication of his works, rather than being based on a real individual.

During the eighteenth century, speculation arose that Johann Thölde, a German salt manufacturer who lived from approximately fifteen sixty-five to sixteen twenty-four, was the true author behind the writings attributed to Basil Valentine. Modern scholarship supports the idea that Thölde was indeed one of the contributors, having published the first five books under Valentine's name, while acknowledging the involvement of other authors as well.

Regardless of his true identity, Basil Valentine demonstrated remarkable expertise in chemistry. His contributions include the discovery that ammonia could be produced through the reaction of alkali with sal-ammoniac, the creation of hydrochloric acid from brine, and the synthesis of ethyl chloride and oil of vitriol, also known as sulfuric acid, among other significant achievements.