Arnaldus de Villa Nova (1235-1311), French chemist and physician. Also known as Arnaud de Villeneuve, he was the first to distill wines in France, doing so in 1250. Born in Valencia and active at the court of Aragon, he was most famous as a physician, teaching for many years at the Montpellier school of medicine. His reputation was gained from his later work in Paris. He also wrote an early book on wine called 'Liber de Vinis'. Engraving from 'Grands Hommes et Grands Faits de l'Industrie' (Great Men and Great Facts of Industry), published in France circa 1880.