Named after Johann Friedrich Böttger (1682–1719). He was supposed to have made gold as alchemist to King August II the Strong of Saxonia. But instead he developed, together with mathematician and physician Ehrenfried Walter von Tschirnhaus, the first European porcelain in 1707–08. In 1710, Böttger became the head of the Dresden (later Meissen) Porcelain Manufacture. Böttger tried to sell the secret for the production of porcelain to the king of Prussia, so August II put Böttger into prison, where he died a short time later. (M 22507) _ _.