New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-05
OBITUARY..
JOHN WILLIAM DRAPER


from painful disease of The bladder. Although his
i'll health has prevented the discharge of his regular
duties at the University Of the City of New YORK,
serious danger anticipated and YESTERDAY al
the meeting of the faculty classes were assigned Tor
his instruction.
Professor Drapcrs birthplace was st. Helens, near
Liverpool, England, on May 8, 1911. His earliest
education. obtained in Wesleyan Methodist school
at Woodhouse Grove, developed his native fondneSs
for the natural sciences. He devoted himself to the
study Of physics, chemistry and the higher mathe-
MATES under private instruction at first, and later
at the University of London In 1888 he followed
other members of his family to this country. and III
1886 was graduated in medicine at the Uni
versty of Pennsylvania. His thesis was
selected by the faculty for publication. Soon
afterward he was appointed Professor OF
Chemistry and Physiology in Hampden-Sdney
College, Virginia, where he remained for three
years. Coming TO New-York in 1889 he became
Professor of Chemistry and Natural History in the
University of the City of York, and his connec
ton with this institution continued until his death
In 1871 DR.. Draper. in company with the late
Drs. Valentine Mott, Cunning S. Bedford, Pattison
and Revere founded the Medical Department of the
University. in which he accepted the chair OF
Chemistry, adding in 1850 the professionally OF
Physiology. After 1851, however, DR.. Draper con-
fined his academic lectures to the Department OF
Analytical and Practical Chemistry. In the fire
which in 1863 destroyed the Medical School build
ING, then in Fourteenth-st.. near the Academy
of Music DR.. Draper lost his library
laboratory and MANY invaluable notes But, I'M
mindful of private loss, his frmness saved the
school from abandonment under TINS misfortune
Through his efforts provision was made Tor the
students at the Ncw-York Hospital until accommO
dations were secured in East Twen' y-SlXth-s, near
the present site of the school. For severa! years
DR.. Draper was Secretary and subsequently FreSlI
dent OF the Medical Faculty In 1873 he severed
his connection with the Medical school ana mas
since been the President of the scientific department
of the University. -.
The bare outline Of DR.. Diapers life conveys
very inadequate idea Of his investigations. ~ an
cXnermenting scientist and his literary successes rs
brilliant and original writer. During his irSt proieS
sOrship in Hdmpdcu-StDcy COLLEGE lie devoted Inuch
of his time to scientific cXpeIi,ncnts These iorin7d
She subjects Of several articles in The L0pdOn ana
EdabRr9h PhiigsopAirGi J.Hrrdi Ind III The 1mCrt"GR
.Jourpd of NciicqI Science Ia l. 80 Dr. Draper ans.
covered the pncnomcna known as "rorlc hgur'S
OF " mlsers images, when are formed Whth = com
is placed upon polished surface of glass, and re-
main latent until brought out by the condensation
of yapor When tic discovery Of DaGIerlt was an
uouucrd Dr. Draper began "a series OF experiments IN
he same direction. As one result ne th" first
to apply the process 10 the taking OF portraits,
and his sister, Miss Ca hcrine Draper was the tiIat
sitter. Dr. Draper also discovered, about thIa time,
the method of measuring the intensity of the chcInI
cal action of light, by means ci mixture OF equal
volumes of chlorine and hydrogen @asrs An aSNo-
ciatr of DT. Draper in his early years IL New
York. and an attendant on many oi his lectures, es-
pcrilIly those dealing WITH the electro magnet was
S. F. b. Morse, the inventor Of the magnetic tcc-
graph.
treatise " On the forces which produce the Organl-
zation OF Plants showing the nature OF the rays
absorbed il the growth OF prints III the sunlight,
and demonstrating that the maximum action IS pro-
duccd by the yellow rays. text book on Chemistry
was published By DR. Draper in 1916, and one on
Natural History in 1o4T 4 memoir published IN
Il " Is Al
the facts that ali solid sub-idACcS br,omt lncaHdtS
cent at the same Temperatures, 977l Fahrenheit
that the spectrum OF incandeSc"nt solid is con
tinuOus, and that the rays emitted by solids
at lower temperature are invisible, put
become red at 81, and augment IN intensity
number and reiranglbllity at higher tempGra-
lures. DR.. Draper continued profound researches
into tho chemical action OF light proving thai rays
of all nave lengths are capable OF producing cheml-
cal changes. one of his most important papers,
published some years later, An Experimental TX
animation of the Distribution of Heat and If Chem
icai Force In the Spectrum was received rs most
fresh and valuable contribution TO cNlAlng knoWl-
edge the subject OF radiant energy. These sclen,
tihc discoveries received IN 1876 the highest award
that American science can peS tOE-, nc humiofd
Medal presented to DE-. Draper at the May meeting
of the American Academy OF Arts ana science, Tor
researches on raulant energy Cohcctloh ot III.
Drapcr's scientific papers was 70 have been pub
IisGtd by Harper & Brothers in 1850 but the ed
itIOn was destroyed by fire.
specialist. His treatise on Human Ph}Sloiogyi
Statical and Dynandcal; or, tne Conditions and
in 'i85G was followed inlSG1 by a
remarkable work intended as compli-
mcpt Of the first, but Of broader d scope
thing DR.. Draper had yet published. Nmie ms
physiology considered man as ~ individual IA ms
History of the Intellectual Development OF
advancement is "a completely under the control OF
natural law as bodily growth, ana llat the llle
lion This was Immediately icpubshed IN Eng
land and has been translated into Arabic. Turkish,
Fr.nch and German. he BestHiaster EcrieC
said: What COmte showed might ana
ought to be done Tor the whole world Of man. |
what Mr. Buckle commenced tor England, France |
and spain d. Draper has effected Ior he Whole OF
Europe" The work amy er,aiy considered !
one OF the most remarkable acnieFilents lh&J The
Positive Philosophy had produced. Df. Draper de- !
iveYod in the winter OF lSGt-GJ series 90 lectures
before the New York Historical society, afterwards
expanded and pdbi5hed uIter INC utir 81 |
" thoughts on the Future ClyIi POhcy OF America"
In this lac emphasized the influence OF pm seal
conditions, studied the elects OF the groupings OF 80
many uauon9.itIe, and concluded that America |
oi,id hefo,nr The fb.atre of vast conflict of ideas
and thai he, safety required the abolition 81 me |
European method of government through me /
morals and the adoption Of an American method |
OF government through the lhtciicc'. hi' TdIihH
ideas rcapPcaret IN his History ol the America !
Civil War" 1SG7l7Ol, which afforded ireer scope |
for bTliancy and dramatic eiact IN Wrilihg |
and for mastering facts 10 the support OF |
his theories. Ia 1874 was pn9Isned Dr. !
Diapers History OF the Conflict Between
kclig on and Science, which excited more aCIVc |
cri ,icsm than any other of his works. The Cause |
was piain Or. Draper, in all matters, held hrmiy |
to freedom OF Thought. The objection t. hlS book |
was summarized by criIc, VINO sand: wan Dr. |
Draper the word religion Is symbol "hich !
stands for uncnghteneI bIgOtry or narrow minded
uuwil iugne5, to iOc.. facts ia the face
In the five Important works spoken OF |
there il a unity of purposr, an earnest /
search for immediate causes, and partial al /
hereucc 10 theories carried even 80 blindness, which
were characteristic OF the author, VINO, however, !
will he hest known us a scIcn .Is For the last few
ycais d.. Diapers work, although still experiment
tai and professional, WAS 10 degree retrp5pectYc.
In 1876 he delivered his inaugural address ~ /
President OF the American Chemical society /
~, sl.inncn LII AmrTlcn.u In lNIn Inc /