The experiments of Michał Jan Borch (1753–1811) concerning chemiluminescence

In the paper, the scientific activities of Polish scientist Michał Jan Borch (1753–1811) are briefly discussed, The Polish translation of Borch’s article (published in “Atti dell’ Academia della Scienza di Siena” in 1781) on the luminescence of the sea and different ideas on what could cause the phenomenon is presented. The attempts of Borch to isolate the luminescence – generating substance from decaying swordfish are discussed in the light of some later data on the chemiluminescence of organic compounds, Connected to bioluminescence experiments of our other scientists of that time (G. Forster and K. Kortum) are also quoted