Celebrating the bicentenary of the "Prix de l’Institut" awarded to Sir Humphry Davy

On 25th June 2008, a reception was held at the "Résidence de France" in London, in the presence of HE Mr Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom, of Professor Jules Hoffmann, President of the Académie des Sciences and of Dr Richard Pike, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry, to commemorate the bicentenary of the "Prix de l’Institut" awarded to Sir Humphry Davy and to celebrate the continuous exchange of scientific knowledge between France and the UK, in particular through the mobility of scientists.

Two hundred years ago, on 14 March 1808, when England and France were enemies, a letter was sent by a French navy officer to Jean-Baptiste Delambre, astronomer and general secretary of the "Classe des Sciences physiques et mathématiques" at the "Institut National", concerning a decision to honour the renowned chemist Humphry Davy (well known for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth elements, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine and his invention of the Davy lamp).

The International Chemical Landmark Plaque, a Davy Lamp and a portrait of Sir Humphry Davy

The Davy lamp was kindly lent by Professor David Cope, director of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

The letter reported the impossibility of getting through the British naval blockade in order to notify Humphry Davy that the Emperor Napoleon wished to honour him with an award for his services to science, the “Prix de l’Institut”. In the letter the official said that the objective of the Emperor’s award was "to promote and share scientific knowledge".

Eventually Davy must have received word of the honour because, five years later, in 1813, he took ship with Jane, Lady Davy, and his protégé Michael Faraday to reach Paris where a medal awaited collection.

Two hundred years later, at the beginning of the French Presidency of the European Union and at a time when France and the United Kingdom share the common goal of developing a knowledge-based society to create long-term prosperity for our continent, this award stand as a striking symbol.

From left to right: Professor Pierre Braunstein, member of the Académie des Sciences and of the Council of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Professor Jules Hoffmann, President of the Académie des Sciences, HE Mr Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, Ambassador of France to the United Kingdom, Dr Richard Pike, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Chemistry

During the reception, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the British learned society dedicated to chemistry, repaid the honour of the prize and presented the French Académie des Sciences with an International Chemical Landmark plaque.