1740-1825

Austrian mineralogist remembered for discovering tellurium. While working with gold ore in 1782, Müller isolated a substance he concluded was a new element. His work went unnoticed until Martin Klaproth asked for a sample of the ore and confirmed the discovery in 1798. Klaproth named the element tellurium. The Emperor Joseph II appointed Müller chief inspector of mines in Transylvania and in due time conferred upon him the title of Baron von Reichenstein.