The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-23
|DR. R. OGDEN DOREMUS DEAD.
FAMOUS CHEMIST ACTIVE UNTIL
NEAR THE END.

Was Born in q House in Bowling Green in
lsaA-LOnG q Leading Factor In the
Scientific Life OF the City-F1Bured
as an Expert In Many Famous Trials.
DR.. Robert Ogden Doremus, the well
known chemist, died yesterday morning at
his home in the Strathmore, Ffty-second
street and Broadway, in his eighty-third
year. Ten days ago he complained OF
feeling i'll and a physician was summoned.
The trouble was diagnosed as an arterlal
breakdown due to advanced age. His sons,
DR.. Charles A.. Doremus, Thomas G. Dore-
mus and Arthur L.. Doremus, with their
sister, Miss Estelle Doremus, were present
when the end came.
An article appeared in a March magazine
which was written by DR.. Doremus just
previous to his illness reminiscent OF Booth
and Ole Bull. In a private laboratory
he still carried on experimental work, and
during his illness repeatedly asked his son
and assistant, DR.. Charles Doremus, how
the work was progressing.
Funeral services will be held Sunday
afternoon at 2 O'Clock in the South Re-
formed Church, Madison Avenue ana Ihlrty-
eighth street.
DR.. Doremus was born in his fathers
homs in Bowling Green, January IL 1924.
When he was a boy the family moved to
Broadway and Cortlandt street, at that time
tered Columbia College in 1888, but remained
there only one year, when he entered New
York University, of which his father was one
Of the founders. He was graduated In
1s42 with the degree Of A.. B. He .subse-
quently took the degree Of A. NJ. in 1845
and was graduated from the medical de-
partment In 1850.
DR.. Doremus's enthusiasm for science
was encouraged by DR.. John W. Draper,
whose assistant he was from 1843 TO 1850.
1t was during this period that Prof. Draper
conducted his researches on light and made
the first daguerTeotypes OF the human face;
In ls47 DR.. Doremus visited Europe and
studied electro-metallurgy in Paris. In
1850, associated with several prominent men,
and equipped the first chemical laboratory
In this country in which medical students
were required to make a PRACTICAL STUDY
of chemistry. 1t was here that he began
his career as a public lecturer.
DR.. Doremus was for more than NIFTY
years prominently identified with medical
education in this country.
In 1855 DR.. Doremus was called in as q
chemical expert by District Attorney Water
bury in an important murder case, and it
was on his evidence that the jury found
assisted in such trials in all parts OF the
country. Soon after the founding OF the
Free Academy, DR.. Doremus was appointed
it's professor Of natural history, resigning
in 1881 to travel in Europe in the interests
Of an invention for the reduction Of grant,
lated gunpowder by compression. After
about a years work experiments made
before Emperor Napoleon III: resulted tsO Eedn in
Government. On his return he became
professor of chemistry and physics Of the
Free Academy. Soon afterward the name
Of the institute was changed to that of the
College of the City of New York. He wps
a constant contributor to the daily press
and the leading periodicals and was editor
in chief for the department Of chemistry
of the Standard Dictionary. Working with
physicians, of whom DIR. Valentine Mott
was at the head, he served with the Medical
Advisory Commissio which established
the present Board Of Health. DR.. Doremus
was q great lover of music andmade it his
recreation. AS a yong man he possessed
a fine tenor voice. He was invited TO be
president OF the Philharmonic Society in
1897 and was twice reelected its president.
After his marriage in 1850 to Estelle Emma
Skidmore he ived for many years at Nine
teenth street and Fourth avenue.