Vigani was born at
Verona about the middle of the seventeenth century. He travelled in Spain, France, and Holland, and studied mining, metallurgy, and pharmacy in the countries he visited. He is not known to have received an official university degree. In 1682 he published a small treatise, entitled
Medulla Chymiæ. It was dedicated to a Dutchman, Joannes de Waal, and was printed and published at
Danzig. During this year he probably arrived in England, first settling in
Newark-on-Trent. About 1683 he took up his residence at Cambridge, and began to give private tuition in chemistry and pharmacy. In 1692 he was invited to write a treatise on chemistry, which was never completed. By this time he had become an acknowledged teacher of the subject in Cambridge, and, though still independent of university support, had acquired a reputation. In 1703 the Senate of the University of Cambridge passed a resolution "investing with the title of professor of chemistry John Francis Vigani, a native of Verona, who had taught chemistry with reputation in Cambridge for twenty years previously." In 1705 he was lecturing on pharmaceutical chemistry at
Queens' College. According to controversial pamphlets about
Richard Bentley's actions as master of
Trinity College, Cambridge it is likely that Vigani, as newly created professor, gave instruction in the laboratory which had been constructed there by the master against the wishes of the senior fellows. During all these years Vigani spent part of his time in Newark. He was buried there in February 1712. The vacancy in the professorship which was occasioned by his death was filled in 1713 by the appointment of John Waller, B.D. Vigani, in the disputes in which Bentley was involved, remained on good terms with both sides. He never seems to have mastered the English language. According to
Abraham de la Pryme, who attended his lectures, Vigani was a great traveller and a learned chemist, but a 'drunken fellow.' In one of his letters, however, Vigani emphasises the benefits of a temperate life. He married, about 1682, shortly after his arrival in England. A daughter Frances was baptised there in January 1683; another, Jane, in March 1684. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, died at Newark at the close of 1711. ==Works==