Biography

French pharmacist and botanist from Saint-Pont-de-Seyne who was apprenticed to a pharmacist in Seyne and studied alpine plants. He joined the army as a pharmacist (1794-1789) and was based in Italy. Jacques Clarion later moved to Paris and studied medicine, obtaining his diploma in 1793. He was one of a number of pharmacists who tried to elucidate the medicinal properties of Chinese rhubarb and submitted his doctoral thesis on the subject. In 1819 he was appointed an associate professor at the School of Pharmacy in Paris ( l'Ecole de Pharmacie de Paris) and in 1825 he became professor of botany. His birth date is commonly cited as 1776 but appears to be 12 October 1779. His name is variously interpreted and botanical collection refernces to Jean Clarion (1780-1856) are probably referable here.