Those practicing alchemy chemistry during the 17th and 18th Centuries were frequently imprisoned to either keep them working or keep them from sharing "secrets" and, if the going got really tough, were hung for their failures. Young Johann Friedrich Böttger was exactly in this position in the early 1700's.
Europeans Greedy for the Secret
Ever since porcelain arrived in Europe from China, Europeans struggled to replicate the recipe for making this fine ceramic and failed. China closely guarded the secret. Augustus the Strong, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, was one of the wealthy Europeans who collected porcelain at a feverish pace. Augustus the Strong wanted porcelain and wanted money.
Johann Böttger had a classic alchemist's education. His abilities were well known enough that when the King of Prussia summoned him, Böttger bolted to Saxony to stay out of harm's way. Unfortunately, Augustus the Strong also knew about Böttger's abilities, captured him, and put him under guard. Böttger struggled to change metal into gold and, of course, failed.
Böttger teams with Tschirmhaus
Fortunately for Böttger, Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirmhaus, a noted physicist and mathematician, was also in the King's service. Tschirmhaus had been working for years to find the formula for porcelain. Böttger joined Tshcirmhaus in working on the project. Böttger was on the road to success when he produced the hard red stoneware that bears his name, Boettger porcelain.
Unfortunately, Tschirmhaus died in 1708, one year before Böttger put together the puzzle and produced real porcelain. This did not end Böttger's woes. Augustus the Strong still wanted gold and also wanted to prevent anyone else from getting the formula for porcelain.
In 1710, the Meissen factory opened under Augustus' patronage to produce commercial porcelain. In 1713, Meissen offered European porcelain for sale for the first time. And what about Böttger? While Böttger was a free man when he died at the age of 37 in 1719, he died a penniless alcoholic.
Meissen still produces quality porcelain today.
Note: Böttger is also spelled Boettger.
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