GERTINGER, Samuel Ján
* 13. 8. 1754, Prešov, Slovakia
† 22. 11. 1813, Prešov, Slovakia
Pharmacist, entrepreneur
After G. finished primary school he worked in a J. Berghs pharmacy in Kežmarok until 1776. After this he studied pharmacy at the University of Budapest and graduated in 1780. Based on foreign research studies he began to deal with the production of sugar from fodder beet. As a pioneer in sugar production he has been compelled to produce the raw material himself. He made the first sugar according to the method of J. F. Göttling, chemist from Jena, from dried beet slices. As he did not get the expected result, next year he reprocessed the turnip according to Archad method and he discussed it in the report in the Patriotic weekly for Hungary (Patriotisches Wochenblatt für Ungarn) in 1804, where he also proposed the construction of sugar factories in Hungary and proper education for practitioners. Since he was convinced the sugar beets will be very important in the future, he was able to overcome the difficulties that were associated with the cultivation and production of sugar beets. Regarding the construction of sugar factories in Pešovo he asked for the help of the authorities. He took advantage of Palatine’s visit to Prešov in 1803 and gave him a piece of hard sugar from his own production and asked him for support. For ten years he was trying to realize the project. When he saw that neither the government nor the city authorities will help him financially, he financed the construction from his own resources in 1811. The factory wanted to produce sugar from beets and maple. He started with the production and provided the city authorities with samples of finished products and committed to produce as much sugar to meet the needs of the whole parish. After that the Hungarian Deputy State Council issued an order to support G.’s efforts, but G. died in 1813 and could not continue with his work.
