WARTHA, Vince (Winczenz)

After grammar school W. began his chemistry studies at Budapest József Polytechnicum, still very modestly equipped at that time, but he soon transferred to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, where he graduated in 1864. After returning to Hungary he got an assistant position at the Polytechnicum in the Department of Chemistry. However, he was dissatisfied with the overall situation, so he went to Germany and hold a doctorate in Heidelberg. From there he returned to Zurich, working as an assistant and a private teacher at the Institute of Chemistry from 1865 to 1867. In 1867 he received an invitation from Hungarian Polytechnicum to take a position in Department of mineralogy and geology, which he accepted. In 1871 he was nominated professor of the department of chemical technology at the Technical University, where he remained for the following 41 years. Between 1870 and 1897 he was also the director of academic library. W. had a decisive influence in the selection of sites for new university building which was built on the right bank of the Danube. He took the rector position at the year of the opening of the new building, but due to a severe illness could not attend the opening, at which the sovereign Francis Joseph was present. W. published several technical books and a total of 500 other scientific contributions. He was also editor of the newspaper "Müegyetemi Lapok", which began publishing in 1876. His most important innovation was the discovery of a centuries sought medieval secrets of enamel from Gubbia with metal lustre. With the elaboration of enamel, which had a similar effect, the Zsolnay company in Pécs succeeded in making porcelain with the so-called "Eosine enamel". As an expert in the field of ceramics W. also participated in establishing the museum "Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche" in Faenza. He also developed alkalimetry method and, along with Ignac Pfeifer, a method for determining the water hardness. Since 1873 he was a corresponding member, from 1893 a full member and since 1909 a Vice-President of Hungarian Academy of Sciences. In addition he was President of the Hungarian Tourist Association between 1900 and 1909.