He was born into a German mining family where he was trained by his father in the science of mining. In 1764, he entered the service of the
landgrave of Hesse-Kassel at
Hanau, becoming professor of mathematics at the military academy, head of the civil engineering department of the state, director of the theatre and (1774) of the mint. A work on the copper mines of
Elesse (1767) earned him a European reputation, and in 1783 he accepted from
Catherine II of
Russia the directorship of the famous
Staraya salt-works, living thenceforth in Russia.[1]
In 1798 he became a councillor of state at
St. Petersburg. He published many works on mineralogy and metallurgy, of which the most important, the Grundzüge der Berg- und Salzwerkskunde (12 vols, 1773–1791), has been translated into several languages.[1]
His son, Count
Georg von Cancrin, or Kankrin (1774–1845), was an eminent Russian minister of finance[1] and the liaison with
Alexander von Humboldt during his 1829 scientific expedition to Russia. The mineral of
cancrinite is named after him.[2]
Beschreibung der vorzüglichsten Bergwerke in Hessen, in dem Waldekkischen, an dem Haarz, in dem Mansfeldischen, in Chursachsen, und in dem Saalfeldischen. (1767)
Gründliche Anleitung zur Schmelzkunst und Metallurgie, 1784
Stoische Sentenzen, Moralen und politische Einfälle etc., 1785
Geschichte und systematische Beschreibung der in der Grafschaf Hanau Muenzenberg, in dem Amte Bieber und anderen Aemtern dieser Grafschaft benachbarten Laendern gelegenen Bergwerke. 1787.
Grundzüge der Berg- und Salzwerkskunde. 12 vol. Frankfurt 1778–1791.
(Vol. 5 available)