“The history of gunpowder is associated with that of saltpetre, no comprehensive account of which was available.”

—  J. R. Partington

A History of Greek Fire and Gunpowder (1960)
Context: Some recent short publications on Chinese gunpowder and firearms are misleading... I have had valuable assistance from Dr. J. Needham... If the dates of the texts are correct, the discovery of the use of saltpetre in explosives and the development of gunpowder are to be sought in China from the eleventh century. The history of gunpowder is associated with that of saltpetre, no comprehensive account of which was available.

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J. R. Partington38
British chemist 1886–1965

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