Boltzman was the first man to understand the true nature of naturals transformations and he made this before the general acceptance of the atoms existence.
His work wouldn't understood. Boltzman overwhelmed with grief killed oneself.
Carnot reached to the thermodynamics studying the steam engine, Boltzman made out the thermodynamics from the opposite side i.e. from the atoms.
Following research and experiments attested that Boltzman was right and now he is universally acknowledged as one of greatest physicists in the history of science.

Fathers of
thermodynamics:

Sadi Carnot

 James P. Joule

 Lord Kelvin

R.Clausius