Klaus, Karl Karlovich

Karl Karlovich Klaus, also called Carl Ernst Claus, (born Jan. 23, 1796, Dorpat, Russia [now Tartu, Estonia]—died March 24, 1864, Dorpat), Russian chemist (of German origin) credited with the discovery of ruthenium in 1844.

Klaus was educated at Dorpat, where he became a pharmacist; later he taught chemistry and pharmacy at the universities of Dorpat and Kazan. Klaus was noted for his researches on the platinum metals osmium, palladium, iridium, and rhodium, and it was in the course of investigating the waste residues of the platinum refinery in St. Petersburg that he discovered ruthenium.