# Antoine-Augustin Parmentier

> French agronomist, naturalist, nutritionist, and hygienist; promoter of the potato as a food source in Europe (1737-1813)

**Wikidata**: [Q360312](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360312)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine-Augustin_Parmentier)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/antoine-augustin-parmentier

## Summary
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was a French agronomist, naturalist, nutritionist, and hygienist who lived from 1737 to 1813. He is best known for his pivotal role in promoting the potato as a viable food source throughout Europe. His work spanned the fields of botany and pharmacy, significantly influencing agricultural practices and public health nutrition in France.

## Biography
- **Born:** August 12 or 13, 1737
- **Nationality:** France
- **Education:** Lycée Louis-le-Grand
- **Known for:** Promoting the potato as a food source in Europe
- **Employer(s):** French Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences of Turin, Académie de Stanislas
- **Field(s):** Botany, Pharmacy

## Contributions
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier is primarily credited with championing the potato as a staple food crop in Europe. Through his work as an agronomist and nutritionist, he advocated for the cultivation and consumption of the potato, which helped address food security challenges. His legacy in the culinary world is marked by the dish Hachis Parmentier, a French variant of shepherd's pie named in his honor. As a pharmacist and hygienist, he contributed to the understanding of the chemical and nutritional properties of food sources.

## FAQs
**What was Antoine-Augustin Parmentier's profession?**
Parmentier was a multi-disciplinary scientist working as an agronomist, naturalist, nutritionist, and hygienist. He was also professionally recognized as a pharmacist, botanist, and dietitian.

**Where did Antoine-Augustin Parmentier receive his education?**
He attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, a public school located in Paris, France.

**Which scientific societies was Parmentier a member of?**
He was affiliated with several prestigious learned societies, including the French Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Sciences of Turin, and the Académie de Stanislas in Nancy.

**Why is the potato associated with Antoine-Augustin Parmentier?**
He is famous for his extensive efforts to promote the potato as a safe and nutritious food source for the population of Europe at a time when it was often viewed with suspicion.

**What is Hachis Parmentier?**
Hachis Parmentier is a French variant of shepherd's pie, a dish named after Antoine-Augustin Parmentier due to his association with the potato.

## Why They Matter
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier played a transformative role in European agriculture and nutrition by legitimizing the potato as a food source. His advocacy helped shift public perception and agricultural policy, contributing to food security and improved diets for the population. As a member of the French Academy of Sciences and other learned societies, he applied scientific rigor to the study of plant life and nutrition, bridging the gap between botany, pharmacy, and public health. His influence persists today in both culinary traditions and the historical understanding of nutritional science.

## Notable For
- **Potato Promotion:** Instrumental in establishing the potato as a primary food source in Europe.
- **Scientific Affiliations:** Member of the French Academy of Sciences, Academy of Sciences of Turin, and Académie de Stanislas.
- **Multidisciplinary Expertise:** Recognized contributions across agronomy, botany, pharmacy, nutrition, and hygiene.
- **Culinary Legacy:** The namesake of Hachis Parmentier, a traditional French dish.
- **Lifespan:** Lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries (1737–1813), encompassing the era of the First French Empire.

## Body

### Identity and Early Life
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier was a human and a citizen of France, born in 1737. Specific details regarding his place of birth are not provided in the source material, but his educational background is documented. He attended the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, a notable public school in Paris. This institution, with inceptions tracing back to 1563, 1873, and 1965, served as his foundation for his future scientific endeavors. Parmentier lived until 1813, a lifespan that encompassed significant historical periods in France, including the rise of the First French Empire in 1804.

### Professional Roles and Fields of Study
Parmentier's career was defined by a diverse range of occupations centered on the science of life and health. He was an agronomist, specializing in plant production, and a naturalist. His expertise extended into the medical and health sectors as a nutritionist, hygienist, and dietitian. Additionally, he practiced as a pharmacist and a botanist.

His work was deeply rooted in two primary scientific fields:
*   **Botany:** The science of plant life, which involves the study of plant structure, function, growth, evolution, and distribution. This field provided the framework for his agricultural research.
*   **Pharmacy:** The science that studies the chemical, pharmacological, and pharmaceutical properties of drugs. This background informed his understanding of the nutritional and chemical impacts of food on the human body.

### Institutional Affiliations
Throughout his career, Parmentier was associated with several prominent learned societies that reflected his standing in the scientific community.
*   **French Academy of Sciences:** He was a member of this learned society, which was founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research.
*   **Academy of Sciences of Turin:** He held affiliation with this science academy, which had inceptions noted in 1757 and 1783.
*   **Académie de Stanislas:** Located in Nancy, France, this learned society, founded on December 28, 1750, counted Parmentier among its members.

### Contributions to Agriculture and Nutrition
Parmentier is most distinguished for his role as a promoter of the potato as a food source in Europe. At the time, the potato was not widely accepted as a crop for human consumption. Through his dual expertise in agronomy and nutrition, he worked to demonstrate the plant's value. His efforts were instrumental in changing public perception and agricultural habits, leading to the widespread adoption of the potato.

### Culinary Legacy
The impact of Parmentier's work is permanently embedded in French culture through gastronomy. The dish **Hachis Parmentier**, a French variant of shepherd's pie, is named after him. This dish serves as a culinary testament to his enduring association with the potato. While the specific recipe details are not provided in the source, the connection between the scientist and this food item remains a significant part of his historical identity.

## References

1. www.accademiadellescienze.it
2. BnF authorities
3. Integrated Authority File
4. International Plant Names Index
5. Edme Mentelle
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. [Source](https://www.academie-stanislas.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/parmentier.pdf)
10. [Source](http://www.encyclopedie.picardie.fr/Parmentier-Antoine-Augustin.html)
11. SNAC
12. Find a Grave
13. GeneaStar
14. Roglo
15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
16. [Source](https://catalogue.beic.it/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Parmentier,%20Antoine-Augustin&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Library&vid=39BEIC_INST:39BEIC_INST&offset=0)
17. CONOR.SI
18. La France savante
19. Shakeosphere