A. (Albert) Dastre

Born in Paris on November 7, 1844, Albert Dastre was a French physiologist who studied and worked with two major figures in French science, Claude Bernard and Paul Bert. In 1886, he was appointed to the chair of general physiology at the Sorbonne, placing him at the center of academic life in Paris.

Dastre built a reputation through both research and teaching. He was elected to the Académie des Sciences in 1904, and one of the better-known scientists associated with his laboratory was Nicolae Paulescu. His career reflects the strong experimental spirit of late 19th-century physiology, when researchers were trying to understand the body through precise laboratory methods.

He also wrote for broader audiences. Works such as Life and Death show his interest in explaining scientific ideas in an accessible way, not only for specialists but for general readers as well. Dastre died on October 22, 1917.