Clemens Winkler was a German chemist born on December 26, 1838, in the town of Freiberg. He is best known for discovering the chemical element germanium in 1886, which he identified while studying the mineral argyrodite. Winkler's work contributed significantly to the field of chemistry and the understanding of semiconductors. In addition to his discovery of germanium, Winkler held various academic positions throughout his career, including a professorship at the Technical University of Dresden. He published numerous scientific papers and was recognized for his contributions to inorganic chemistry and mineralogy before his death on October 8, 1904.