About Émile van Ermengem
Lived 1851 – 1932 (aged 81). Émile van Ermengem was a Belgian biologist, university teacher, bacteriologist and physician.
Émile Pierre-Marie van Ermengem (1851–1932) was a Belgian bacteriologist who, in 1895, isolated Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism, from a piece of ham that had poisoned thirty-four people.
Life Van Ermengem was born in Leuven on 15 August 1851. After studying in Berlin he became a professor at the University of Ghent. He became a corresponding member of the Académie royale de médecine de Belgique in 1887 and a full member in 1902, serving as secretary 1919–1932.
He died in Ghent on 29 September 1932. His sons were the writer Franz Hellens and the art critic François Maret.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Émile van Ermengem's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Émile van Ermengem's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Émile van Ermengem?
bacteriologist (1851–1932)
When was Émile van Ermengem born?
Émile van Ermengem was born on 15 August 1851 in Leuven.
When did Émile van Ermengem die?
Émile van Ermengem died on 29 September 1932 in Ghent.
What was Émile van Ermengem's occupation?
Émile van Ermengem was a biologist, university teacher, bacteriologist and physician.
What nationality was Émile van Ermengem?
Émile van Ermengem was Belgian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Émile van Ermengem
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Émile van Ermengem. https://biography.guide/emile-van-ermengem/
MLA: "Émile van Ermengem." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/emile-van-ermengem/.
Chicago: "Émile van Ermengem." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/emile-van-ermengem/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:33 UTC