Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, German analytical chemist who discovered first coal tar dye

Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, a German analytical chemist who made some phenomenal discoveries some of them includes identified the mydriatic effects of belladonna extract, identified caffeine, and discovered the first coal tar dye. Runge is best known for identifying the caffeine in 1819.

Runge was born near Hamburg in Germany on February 8, 1794. Runge expressed interest in chemistry from an early age and began conducting experiments as a teenager. The renowned German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was the man behind his inspiration, who encouraged him to analyze coffee. He identified the pupil-dilating effects of belladonna when he accidentally splashed a drop of the toxic perennial, also known as deadly nightshade, into his eye.

The Google blog post today on his birth anniversary says, "Here's to Runge, without whom the pain of forgoing one's morning cup of coffee might never have had a scientific explanation."

Runge obtained his doctorate and studied chemistry in Jena and Berlin. After Europe tour for three years, Runge taught chemistry at the University of Breslau until 1831. Runge was the first to notice in 1855 the phenomenon of "Liesegang rings".