The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-02-27
PROF. SILLIMAN.
A Biographical sketch Of the Noted scI~ntist.

No name is more closely connected
with the history of science in this coun-
try than that of Silliman. The father
of Prof. Silliman was the first to occu-
pv the chair of chemistry in Yale, and
he filled it for over half a century,
from 1902 to 1853. He was a pioneer
in the department of geology, contrib
uting largely to the formation of that
Science. The elder Silliman died in
1864, leaving his o Benjamin in the
Yale professorship which he had filled
SO long,
Prof. Benjamin Silliman, M. D., was
in his seth year, having been born in
New Haven, Dec. 4, 1916. lie entered
Yale in August, 1888, and was gradu-
ated in 1887, after which he was en-
ployed in the college as assistant and
teacher in the department of chemis-
try, mineralogy, and geology. While
so engaged he made original studies
and Investigations in these sciences
and their practical application to the
arts. He also found time to act as
associate editor with his. father of the
american Journal of Science and ArtS,
which the elder Silliman had founded
in 1918. In 1912 Prof. Silliman began
to receive private pupils in analytical
chemistry and mineralogy in an apart
ment of the old laboratory of Yale,
which he fitted up at his own expense.
Before this time there had been no pro-
vision for the instruction of advanced
students in ply steal and chemical
science either at Yale or elsewhere in
this country, and this enterprise of
Prof. Silliman was the germ of a new
development, which DOR took form
as the Yale Scientific school" and
later grew into the Sheffield Scientific
school," The studies were entirely
outside Of the college curriculum, and
for some time the college took NJ cog
~nizance of the work, not even recog-
nizing the students as such. In 1916,
however, Prof. Silliman addressed a
memorial to the corporation of Yale,
which was ably seconded by his faith
er, asking the official recognition and
organization of the e department of
advanced science teaching, and the re-
suit was the establishment, in 1847, of
a fourth department, devoted to phi
losophy and the arts. Prof. Silliman
was appointed to the chair of chemis-
try applied to the arts and John p.
Norton to the chair of agricultural
chemistry in the new department, and
the Yale Scientific school was then or
ganized. Out of this effort, which
Prof. Silliman began single-handed,
has grown up a new college, embrace
ing more professors than the old
academic college had in 1887, when
he was graduated, and with constantly
increasing power and endowments.
From 1845 to 1849 Prof. Silliman was
New Haven. In 1916 he published his
First Principles of Chemistry" which
became a standard textbook at once,
and of which over fifty thousand cop
les have been sold. In 1849 Prof. Sill.
man was elected to the chair of med
ical chemistry and toxicology in the
medical department of the Louisville
university, which at that time was one
of the most hourishing institutions in
the United States. He held the pro-
fessorship for five years, until 1854,
WtCu uO w bHhO CAnAkO Va
the instruction in chemistry in the
~academical and medical departments
of Yale, a position which had been
made vacant by the resignation of his
father, the instruction in geology and
mineralogy, having been assigned to
Prof. Dana. Prof. Silliman gave the
instruction under an appointment to
the chair of general and applied chem
istry." He resigned his position in
the academical department. in 1870,
but continued to se.ve the college in
the medical department.
In 1851 Prof. Silliman made a tour
of Europe, and on his return edited
his fathers ssVisit to Europe In 1851
In two volumes. The honorary degree
of M. ID. had been conferred on him by
the university OF Charleston, :. c.,
two years previously. In 1856 he had
charge Of the chemical, meteorological,
and geological departments OF the
worlds fair in the Crystal palace in
this city, and in connection with
Charles X. Goodrich edited the follow
ing year 1.-The World of Science, Art,
and Industry" and 1.-THE Progress OF
Science and Mechanism, in which the
chief results of the great exhibition
were recorded. In 1858 be published
his First Principles of Natural Philos-
ophy and Physics a second edition Of
which was issued in 1861. He was one
Of the fifty original members named in
the act of congress Of 1853 Incorporate
ing the National Academy Of Sciences,
and served the government during the
war on important commissions. he
made three visits to CALIFORNIA;
1864. in 1867, and 1872-occupying his
time with professional work in The
mines, and meteorological and geolog'
ical explorations. In 1868 he pre-
scented his private cabinet Of mineral,
to Cornell university, where 1t is la