Clemens Alexander Winkler
German chemist
December 26, 1838 - October 8, 1904

Son of Kurt Winkler, a well-known metallurgist and chemist, Clemens Winkler learned many of his outstanding analytical skills from his father. When he entered the Freiberg School of Mines in 1857, he was able to spend most of his time on research since he already knew more analytical chemistry than was being taught. His time spent on research resulted, along with other discoveries, in the invention of the three-way stopcock, now a standard piece of laboratory equipment. He earned money while in school by producing commercial grade samples of nickel and cobalt.

Winkler accepted a professorship at Freiberg, Saxony in 1873. He was known as the outstanding inorganic chemist of his time. He trained his students so well in laboratory skills that they did not need to wear rubber aprons.

In 1885, Albin Weisback discovered a new mineral and named it argyrodite. An early analysis of the mineral gave results 7% too low (75% silver and 18% sulfur). A sample of the new mineral was given to Winkler for analysis. After working day and night for several months, he discovered on February 6, 1886, the presence of a new element which he named germanium. This discovery fulfilled the prediction of ekasilicon by Mendeleev (1871).