Joseph was more than familiar with the name Lavoisier; it was a name that thundered in his ears.
The greatest chemist of 18th century France, hailed as the "Father of Modern Chemistry," the "Newton of Chemistry."
He was the founder of modern chemistry. He demonstrated the law of conservation of mass. He defined the concept of "elements." He invented the modern chemical list, the precursor to the periodic table. He established the Oxygen Theory of Combustion, putting an end to the "phlogiston theory."
In short, he was a titan of chemistry, a warrior amongst titans.
Joseph suddenly understood why the Royal Gunpowder Bureau could hardly function without its Director—it was common for any department to become dependent on a technical genius like Lavoisier. Most likely, all the research and development work at the Gunpowder Agency had revolved around Lavoisier. With him on leave, the others had lost their pillar of support.