The discoverer of phosgene John Davy

John Davy was born in Penzance on May 24, 1790, the second son of Robert and Grace. His father died oniy four years after his birth and his elder brother (by some 12 years), Sir Humphry Davy, was regarded by John as a father figure. Indeed, John s education was directed and funded by Sir Humphry, whom he greatiy admired and respected. 

Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine (Accession No. 68,226) this has pasted on to the back of its support mount the inscription  

John Davy became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1834 and died in 1868, survived by a son and daughter [1742a]. A short biography has been written by Ross [1742a], although (somewhat surprisingly) his most marked contribution to science, the discovery of phosgene, is not mentioned. 

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