Jacques-Barthélemy Micheli du Crest

[1] Born into the aristocracy, he eventually fled to France as an enemy of Geneva and spent his later years in Aarburg Castle as a political prisoner.

One of his other major accomplishments whilst in exile was to create a thermometer and a temperature scale, which was commonly used in Switzerland and around Europe until it became obsolete in the 19th century.

Eventually, due to his views and publishing pamphlets such as "Maxims of a Republican", he was declared an enemy of Geneva, his rights as a citizen were revoked, and his lands were confiscated.

[5] Du Crest devoted a significant portion of his life in exile to scientific study, making pioneering developments in cartography and the measurement of temperature.

[6][7] Du Crest rejected mercury thermometers, stating that the substance was too difficult to purify, preferring instead alcohol which had passed the gunpowder test.