1754 Joseph Black discovers "fixed air" - carbon dioxide

Joseph Black (1728 - 1799) was born in Bordeaux, France, where his father, who was from Belfast, Ireland, was engaged in the wine trade. His mother was from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and her family was also in the wine business. Joseph had twelve brothers and sisters. He was a Scottish physician and chemist, known for his discoveries of latent heat, specific heat, and carbon dioxide (chemical formula CO₂). He was Professor of Anatomy and Chemistry at the University of Glasgow for 10 years from 1756, and then Professor of Medicine and Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh from 1766, teaching and lecturing there for more than 30 years. The chemistry buildings at both the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow are named after Black.