Trembley, Abraham

SUBJECT AREA: Medical technology

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b. 3 September 1710 Geneva, Switzerland

d. 12 May 1784 Petit Sacconex, Switzerland

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Swiss philosopher and experimental zoologist, pioneer of tissue grafting.

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Educated at Geneva, he later became a tutor to Count Bentinck's family near Leiden. It was during this time, from 1733 to 1743, that he undertook the studies of the organism Hydra that led, in October 1742, to the first permanent graft of animal tissues. His work covered the whole range of possibilities in tissue regeneration and grafting, but he was also engaged in other studies of the protozoa and c. 1760 he made the first observations of cell division. In 1750 he was entrusted with the care of the son and heir of the Duke of Richmond and in 1757, having escorted the young duke all over the European continent, he was able to retire in comfort to the country at Petit Sacconex.

The advice and counsel of Réaumur was of considerable support to him, bearing in mind that many including Voltaire found it impossible to accept that an animal could be multiplied by cutting it into pieces.

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Principal Honours find Distinctions

FRS 1743.

Bibliography

1744, Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire d'un genre de polypes d'eau douce, à bras en forme des cornes, Leiden.

Further Reading

J.R.Baker, 1952, Abraham Trembley of Geneva: Scientist and Philosopher, 1710–1784.

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