Joseph Black was a Scottish physicist and chemist who made significant contributions to the understanding of heat and chemical composition. He is credited with the discovery of magnesium, latent heat, specific heat, and carbon dioxide, discoveries that advanced the fields of physics and chemistry during the 18th century. Black held academic positions at two of Scotland's leading universities. He served as professor of anatomy and chemistry at the University of Glasgow for 10 years beginning in 1756. In 1766, he moved to the University of Edinburgh, where he took on the role of professor of medicine and chemistry. At Edinburgh, he taught and lectured for more than 30 years, establishing himself as a prominent figure in Scottish scientific education.