A French chemist and physician who invented a process for the manufacture of soda ash (sodium carbonate) from salt (sodium chloride). He began his studies in medicine in Paris to train as a physician. When the French Academy of Sciences offered a prize for the conversion of inexpensive salt to the more highly valued soda ash in 1775, he invented a two-step process. He was awarded the prize for the process that used sea salt and sulphuric acid as the raw materials. The process was successfully developed but was confiscated by the French revolutionary government, which refused to pay him the prize money he had rightfully earned. Napoleon, however, later returned the plant to him in 1802 although not the prize. Unfortunately, Leblanc was not able to afford to run the process and he committed suicide in 1806.