Aug 12
Which Army pharmacist introduced the potato as a food source for humans in France in 1772?
Antoine Augustin Parmentier, a pioneering Army pharmacist based in Paris, is celebrated for introducing and popularizing the potato as a human food source in France in 1772. Amid widespread suspicion and legal bans against the "pomme de terre," Parmentier's scientific experiments and public advocacy helped overturn superstitions and alleviate food shortages. His creative efforts included hosting dinners with figures like Benjamin Franklin and enlisting the support of Louis XVI, who granted him land—guarded by soldiers during the day but opened for locals to "steal" potatoes at night, accelerating the tuber's acceptance. Today, his legacy lives on not only in scientific institutions and Parisian place names—like Avenue Parmentier and the Parmentier Métro station—but also in the humble potato left on his monument in Père Lachaise Cemetery.
