John French (1616?-1657) was an English physician who served as an army doctor. In addition to The Art of Distillation, he published a book on the mineral waters at the Yorkshire spa and a translation of Michael Sendivogius' alchemical text, A new light of alchymie (1650). He may also be the editor, "J.F.," of a 1650 translation of The Divine Pymander of Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus, a hermetic text of interest to alchemists. The Art of Distillation is representative of English chemistry of this period. It has been suggested that French was a follower of a Paracelsian school of chemistry -- one which was skeptical of alchemical traditions and more intent on seeking medical uses for chemical compounds.

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