René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur (28.02.1683-18.10.1757) was a French naturalist and a member of the Paris Academy of Sciences (1708). He was born in La Rochelle.
His scientific work was in mathematics, physics, chemical technology, zoology and botany. In 1730 he invented the alcohol thermometer with a scale from 0 to 80 degrees (the Réaumur thermometer). He was the first to use (1722) the microscope for metallurgical research. In 1734 he pointed out the possibility of obtaining artificial silk.
A member of the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1737).