John William Draper (1811-1882)
Dr. John William Draper (1811-1882)
Born at St. Helens.
of the University of New York
1882 Obituary
PROFESSOR JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER, The news of whose death was last week telegraphed from New York, was a native of this country, having been born at St. Helen's, near Liverpool, on May 5th, 1811. He was educated privately at Liverpool, and afterwards at the University of London, applying himself mainly to the study of chemistry and mathematics.
In 1833 he went to the United States (to join some relatives who had emigrated some years earlier) and continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with distinction in 1836. He was soon afterwards appointed Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy and Physiology in Hamp den Sydney College, Virginia and in 1839 succeeded to the Chairs of Chemistry and Natural History in the University of New York. In 1841 he assisted in the establishment of the University Medical College, of which he afterwards became President.
Dr. Draper contributed very extensively to European and American scientific periodicals, especially the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, and he also published a number of works, some purely scientific, and others of a philosophical and historical character. Among these may be mentioned "Memoirs on the Chemical Action of Light (translated into French, Italian, German, Russian, and Polish) a Treatise on the Forces which Produce the Organi sation of Plants," 1844, Test Books on Chemistry and "Natural Philosophy;" 1846-7, "Human Physiology, Statical and Dynamical or the Conditions and Course of the Life of Man," 1856-8 History of the Intellectual Development of Europe," 1862; "Thoughts on the Future Policy of America," 1865; "Philosophical History of the Civil War in America," 1867-9 and The History of the Conflict between Religion and Science," 1874. Two of the sons of the late Dr. Draper have also distinguished themselves in the scientific world. Our portrait is from a photograph by Mora, 707, Broadway, New York.