Jean-Charles-Philippe-Joseph Delvaux de Fenffe

Charles Delvaux de Fenffe (July 25, 1782 – November 14, 1863) was a Belgian doctor of medicine, doctor of sciences, and professor at the University of Liège. He served as the sixteenth rector of the university from 1832 to 1833.

Born in the southern part of the Principality of Liège, Charles Delvaux received a religious education, which was then seen as a means of upward mobility in the bourgeoisie of the principality. After studying medicine in Paris in the early 19th century, he returned in 1809 to his hometown and then to Liège to practice his profession. Soon, he discovered teaching, first at the Imperial Lyceum from 1810 onwards, then at the University of Liège from its establishment in 1817, where he taught physics, chemistry, and metallurgy. He became rector of the university between 1832 and 1833. After becoming emeritus professor in 1837, he continued to practice medicine in Liège until 1857. He then returned to his native village, where he cared for the less fortunate. He died in 1863 at his estate in Fenffe.

His scientific career, in terms of publications, was not extensive; he preferred teaching and popularization. His main works focused on pharmacy inspection, the control of suspicious food, and the conducting of toxicological analyses at the request of the Prosecutor's Office. He was also a member of various learned societies, including the Royal Society of Sciences of Liège, the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium, and the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium.

A ferric phosphate mineral whose chemical composition he determined was named "delvauxite" in his honor by André Dumont.

Early life and education Jean-Charles-Philippe-Joseph Delvaux de Fenffe was born on July 25, 1782, and baptized the same day in Rochefort. He was the son of the physician Théodore-Joseph (1731–1822) and Marie-Anne-Élisabeth Bellefroid (1758–1809). At the time, in the Principality of Liège, one of the ways to ascend in the enriched bourgeoisie was to associate with the canons, known as trefoiners, of Saint Lambert's Cathedral. He obtained his doctorate in medicine in 1806. His thesis was titled "Propositions on Respiration," under the direction of Alexis Boyer.

He then returned to his hometown to practice his new profession but went back to Liège in 1809. Charles was among the four professors and taught physics and chemistry. He taught physics, general chemistry applied to the arts, and metallurgy until the reorganization of 1835. Afterwards, he focused solely on chemistry, both general and applied. He remained a chemistry examiner within the Medical Commission of the Province of Liège from 1824.

Personal life Charles Delvaux married his first cousin, Louise-Hélène-Clémence Bellefroid, on August 29, 1809.

Charles Delvaux, during his life in Liège, lived on Saint-Pierre Square, now Saint-Pierre Street (known as the "Habitation Chapeauville").

Charles Delvaux was a member of various learned societies, including the Free Society of Physical and Medical Sciences of Liège, the Free Society of Emulation of Liège, the Anatomical Society of Paris, the Medical Society of Liège, and a corresponding member of the Medical Society of Antwerp. He was one of the founders of the Natural Sciences Society of Liège and the Royal Society of Sciences of Liège. In 1841, he joined the Royal Academy of Sciences of Belgium and the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium, which at the time had only eight members.

Apart from his doctoral thesis, he did not publish any works. He was primarily known as a popularizer, particularly in geology.

Honors Charles Delvaux de Fenffe was:

Knight of the Order of Leopold (1837).