Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-26

ing the rudimentS of his education in
the common schools of Orrington, he
evlnced talent for mechanical pur-
suits. His father was a famous me-
chanic and the son came to his tastes
by the>law of heredity. The ambition
of the boy was to go to college and af-
ter fitting at Bangor High, earning by
his own exertions the money necessary
to enter Bowdoin, which he did SO at
the age of II. During his vacations ne
worked in a wood preserving plant In
Bangor and it was there that he ac-
CURED his first taste for chemistry.
1T was in his Junior year that the
nrst laboratory was established at
Bowdoin and at it's head was Prof.
CyruS F. Bartlette, the iater-of Prince
ton. The college was just expanding
into scientific work and his class was
the first to take up the study of chem
istry and mineralogy in laboratory
work A son of Prof. Packard had
charge of the laboratory under Prof.
Bartlett and the reputation of young
Robinson in mechanics served him in
good stead. He had already made sew
eral inventions in improvements of
engines and such talent was useful in
the laboratory Mechanical engineer
ing was at first his ambition and after
graduating" in June, 1873, in the same
class with his brother, DR.. Daniel A.
Robinson, now pracnclng medicine in
Bangor, he at once went TO work TO
earn the money necessary to secure a
course in q technical school. In col
lege he had been a member of the
Athenean Literary Society and was
elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He was a
member of the Alpha Delta Phi Fra
ternity.
The year after his graduation from
Bowdoin he was appointed instructor
in chemistry and mineralogy. of this
appointment he has himself said:
ut was the next spring after my
graduation and ! was just preparing to
take course in mechanical engineer
ing General Chamberlain was then
president of Bowdoin and one day /
received a telegram from nm asking
me to come to Brunswick and take
charge of the laboratory. AS this was
in the line of my tastes | at once came
over and took charge of the laboratory
where l have since been except for the
time needed to take post graduate
course in Harvard While in love with
the business I was dissatisfied with the
laboratory which was in the college
carpenter shop While thinking how
to improve the situation help came in
~ "neynacted manner. On the death
of Mrs. SearleS of Boston, her husband
determined to erect e building OF
science here that should stand as her
memorial The result was the build
ing that we are now in and all the
equipments For doing efficient work
the Searles Science building will rank
among the finest in the country"
From 1882 to 1884 Prof Robinson took
post graduate course at Harvard UNI
vcrsity, having been appointed profess
sor here in 1873, in the Josiah Little
professorship, of natural science. and
in 1881 being elected to the chair of
chemistry and mineralogy. Just pre-
vious to the gift of the Searles build
ing Professor Robinson received some
flattering offers to leave Maine, but
with the increased facilities for doing
effective work here he decided to re-
main. The new Science building was
equipped in 1893 and dedicated the fol-
lowing year. At that time the chem
istry class numbered but So, today this
number is more than quadrupled. They
commence with the elementary forms
of the science and the rext books are
from Prof Robinson's own pen and
brain. He published four different
editions Of a text book for use in his
classes. The growth of Prof. Robin
son was the growth of chemistry in
the college and in the State.
His work was never confined to the
mere routine of his position. His hon
ors were as numerous as his duties. At
the closing session of}the 33d annual
conference of Public Health Associa
ton of America in September, 1901 in
Boston, he was elected president of the
association. a marked honor. This as
sociation is very wide in scope and in
cluaeS many Of the most eminent
health specialists in this country. For
many years he had been fellow of
the American Association for the Adj
Vancement of Science, member of the
British Society of Chemical Indus
tries, member of the State Board of
Health, chairman OF the State Survey
Commission and state geologist He
was vice president of the American
Chemical Society. Since 1873 he had
been a member of the supervising
school committee and when a new law
was passed in 1897 creating the office
of superintendent of schools he was
promoted to that position. He brought
to the office Of superintendent as has
been said. a keen discriminating iudg-
mcnt, great experience in educational
matters, wide acquaintance with the
educators of the State and the same
massive public spirit which he mani
tested in so many other directions.
For many years he served the state
as liquor assayer and earnestly strove
to improve the drinking water and
dairy products of Maine. Chemical
journals have for many years been in
the habit of recording from time to
time Prof. RobinsOn's latest achieve
ments. Among these have been the in
ventlon of the Robinson disinfectant
and his research work with properties
OF blue vtrol, alum, fusel oil, radium
ana the adulteration of such food stufrs
as had been called to his attention.,