The Last Testament

Basil Valentine, believed to be a pseudonym, was an alchemist in the 15th or 16th century. However, there is no concrete evidence of his existence before 1600. It was later suggested that Johann Thölde, a German salt manufacturer, may have been one of the authors behind Valentine’s works. Regardless of his true identity, Valentine showed extensive knowledge in chemistry, discovering the production of ammonia, hydrochloric acid, ethyl chloride, and sulfuric acid, among other accomplishments.