Phosphorus was discovered by Hennig Brand, a German chemist, in 1669. He found phosphorus by evaporating about 40-60 buckets of urine, and heating the product with carbon. Brand attempted to keep his process a secret, but he eventually sold his process to another German chemist named Krafft. Krafft showed this "secret" process all around European courts.
Robert Boyle saw an exhibit of Brand's process in London. Eventually, Boyle not only worked out a way to find phosphorus, but improved upon Brand's method by using sand.
Besides discovering phosphorus, Hennig Brand not only discovered phosphorus, but he gave it it's name, which means "bringer of light" in Greek. He named it as such because white phosphorus glows in the dark.
Besides discovering phosphorus, Hennig Brand not only discovered phosphorus, but he gave it it's name, which means "bringer of light" in Greek. He named it as such because white phosphorus glows in the dark.