René-Antoine de Réaumur

Réaumur was a scientist of unbounded curiosity, many of whose investigations and discoveries show a mind ahead of its time. He was taught by Varignon, dined regularly with Buffon, put a geometric problem concerning honeycombs to his friend König, produced the first systematic study of insect life, and prompted Jussieu to show that corals were animals not plants. He taught Bonnet, Trembley, Spallanzani and Guettard, researched electricity with his younger colleague Nollet, and was assisted by Pitot. Musschenbroek wrote to him about his Leyden-jar experiments; Haller and Morgagni also corresponded.