Charles Hatchett (c.
1765 -
1847) was a
English chemist who discovered the element
niobium.
In
1881 while working for the
British Museum in London[?] he analyzed a piece of
columbite in the museum's collection. Columbite turned out to be a very complex
mineral but Hachett discovered that it contained a "new earth" which implied the existence of a new element. He called this element columbium (Cb). On
November 26th of that year he announced his discovery of columbium before the
Royal Society. The element was later renamed to the current niobium.
Later in life he quit his job as a chemist in order to devote his full time to making money by working at his family's coach fabrication business.
The Institute of Materials (London) has been awarding the Charles Hatchett Award yearly to noted chemists since 1979. The award is given to the "author of the best paper on the science and technology of niobium and its alloys."
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