An alchemist was a person versed in the art of alchemy, an ancient branch of natural philosophy that eventually evolved into chemistry and pharmacology. Alchemy flourished in the Islamic world during the Middle Ages, and then in Europe from the 13th to the 18th centuries. We know the names and doings of a large number of alchemists, thanks to the numerous alchemical manuscript and books that survived; some of those names are listed below. Possibly there were many more, bent on experimenting than writing, who have left no trace in history.
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Legendary alchemists
- Enki, one of the Anunnaki (ca. 3000 BC)
- Hermes Trismegistus
- Mary the Jewess
- Nicolas Flamel
- Ostanes
- Zozimos
- Christopher Brokenshire esq.
- Prof. Matthew Niccoli
Egyptian, Classical, and Roman Empire alchemists
- Plato (ca. 360 BC)
- Olympiodorus of Thebes (ca. 400)
Indian alchemists
- Nagarjuna, the 10th century South Indian king
- Yogi Vemana
Chinese alchemists
- Zhang Guo the Elder (ca. 600)
Islamic alchemists
- Further information: Alchemy (Islam)
- Khalid ibn Yazid, "Calid" (d. 704)
- Jabir Ibn Hayyan, the "true Geber" (Iraq, c. 721 - 815)
- Muhammad ibn Zakarīya Rāzi, "Rhazes" (864 - 930)
- Al-Farabi, "Alfarabi" (870 -950/951)
- Al-Kindi, "Alkindus" (801 873), a critic of alchemy
- Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina, "Avicenna" (980 - 1037), a critic of alchemy
Western alchemists
- Artephius (12th century)
- Alain de Lisle (Born from 1115 to 1128 - died in 1202(1203?))
- Albertus Magnus (1193-1280)
- Roger Bacon (1214-1294)
- Ramon Llull (Raymond Lulli) (1235-1315)
- Pope John XXII (1249-1334)
- Arnold de Villeneuve (1245-?(before 1311))
- Pietro d'Apone (1250-?)
- Jean de Meung (c.1250-c.1305)
- Pseudo-Geber (Spain, 14th century)
- Gilles de Rais (1401-1440)
- Bernard Trevisan (Bernard of Treves) (1406-1490)
- Tomasso Masini da Peretola (15th century)
- Johannes Trithemius (1462-1516)
- Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535)
- Paracelsus (1493-1541)
- Basilius Valentinus (Basil Valentine) (15th century)
- George Ripley (England, 15th century)
- Jacob Boehme (1575-1624)
- Nicolas Flamel (15th century)
- Edward Kelley (1555 - 1597)
- Johann Georg Faust (ca. 1480 - 1540)
- Jan Baptist van Helmont (1577-1644)
- Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)
- François Hotman (1524-1590)
- Michał Sędziwój (1566-1636)
- Arthur Dee (1579-1651)
- Edward Dyer (d. 1607)
- Elias Ashmole (1617-1692)
- George Starkey (alchemist) (1628 - 1665)
- Henning Brand (c.1630-1710)
- Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
- Claude Duval (1643-1670)
- Alessandro Cagliostro (1743-1795)
- Count of St Germain (d. 1784)
- Johann Christoph von Wöllner (1732-1800)
- Ernest Rutherford (1839-1937)
- August Strindberg (1849-1912)
- Fulcanelli (Dates unknown: Late 19th century - early 20th.)
Revival and New Age alchemists
- Alexander Shulgin (1925- )
- Terrence McKenna (1946-2000)
- Frater Albertus (Dr. Albert Reidel) (1911-1984)
- Robert Allen Bartlett (1950- )
- Manfred M. Junius (1929-2004)
- G. I. Gurdjieff (1866-1949)
- Diane Di Prima (1932- )
- Marie-Louise von Franz (1915-1998)
- Verônica de Thule (1973- )
- Nicki Scully (1944- )
- Dennis Hauck (19?- )
Fictional Alchemists
- Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric (1905-?)
- Alphonse Elric (1906-?)
- Flame Alchemist,Roy Mustang
- Strongarm Alchemist,Alex Louis Armstrong
- Tim Marcoh
- Zolf J. Kimblee
- Hohenheim of Light
- Dante
- Atelier Iris,Klein Kliesing,Iris Fortner,Viese and Felt Blanchimont
