Stephen Romer

* Nagysáros, December 26, 1788 – † Vienna, July 30, 1842 / pharmacist, manufacturer ; ; His father was a reputable lawyer, and when his son reached school age, the family already lived in Sátoraljaújhely, István Rómer graduated from high school here, which he did not continue after the fourth grade of high school, because at the age of 14 he was assigned to the pharmaceutical career: he apprenticed for three years in the Sátoraljaújhely pharmacy. After that, he also spent three years in Košice as an uncertified assistant, and then continued his pharmaceutical studies in Vienna. To do this, he had to earn money first, so he could only enroll in university in 1809, where he obtained a master pharmacist's degree in 1814. That same year, he married a wealthy woman: Baroness Jozefa Langen. In 1815, his mother-in-law died, so he acquired a large fortune and he and his wife decided to buy a pharmacy in Pest. While they were working as a chemist, their money was embezzled by pimps and in order to make a living, he tried his luck in the army in France. However, due to the final fall and exile of Napoleon, his services were no longer needed, so he returned to Vienna, where he got a job as a pharmacist with his former employer, József Scharinger. In addition to his work, he conducted chemical experiments, primarily the possibility of perfecting the so-called dipping match concerned him. In addition, he manufactured medicines and other medical supplies, and even undertook the production of chlorinated lime, which was well-suited for disinfection. He also developed a process for the production of potassium hypochlorite, which he patented for 5 years in December 1821. He introduced chlorine gas into the solution of potash in such a way as to minimize losses. ; He also made progress in perfecting the match when he improved the method of the German chemist Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner (1780–1849), creating the ancestor of today's gas lighters. In the 1820s, Rómer had about 20 patents registered. In 1836, he met János Irinyi (1817–1895), a student in Vienna, whose innovation regarding phosphorus matches piqued his interest, since at that time he already had a well-functioning match factory in the imperial city that also produced phosphorus matches. The essence of Irinyi's invention was that instead of potassium chlorate, which reacted too violently, he used lead dioxide to "ignite" phosphorus (and the match). ; Since the operation was "noiseless" and much safer, Irinyi's match was called a noiseless lighter. The misconception spread among posterity that István Rómer “cheated” the young Hungarian chemist and obtained his invention cheaply. In reality, they were on good terms until Rómer’s death, and Irinyi was a daily visitor to the Rómer family’s house. With the money he received for his invention (which is later estimated to be several thousand forints at the time), he was not only able to continue his studies in Vienna and Germany, and then travel home in 1839, but he was also able to start a business in Pest. István Rómer began producing the necessary phosphorus himself in April 1837 and also built a machine with which he significantly increased the daily production of matchsticks (to approximately 400–500 thousand pieces). He distributed the noiseless matches intended for Hungarians in boxes in national colors. Rómer was one of the most significant chemical entrepreneurs of the Habsburg Empire, and through his patents and inventions, he was also an outstanding chemical technologist of his time. His death was caused by an accident: during the renovation of his villa in Vienna, the scaffolding collapsed and the terrace on which he was staying collapsed. ; ; His main works: Über die wasserdichte und vor dem Feuer schützende Farbenmasse für Shindeldächer, 1829.