Jean-Nicolas-Sébastien Allamand

[1] He conducted early research on giraffes, using skin and bone samples sent in 1764 from South Africa.

At first he specialized in theology, and subsequently he came to the Netherlands, where he practised mathematics, physics, chemistry, and natural history, in Leiden.

Allamand expanded his knowledge of physics, and with 'sGravesande's support, he became a professor of philosophy at the University of Franeker on 3 March 1747.

He also collected from his own funds a Cabinet of Natural Rarities, during his lifetime open to students in a hall behind the Academy building.

From French, he translated: He wrote some essays on physics, and gave the first explanation of the Leyden jar.