The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-08
OR,JOHN W.MAlLET
DIES At HIS HOME
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry
in University of Vir-
ginia Passes.
Especial to The Times Dispatch. ]


Char. ottesvilie. Va, November .
Dir. John William Mallet professor
emeritus of chemistry In the Cn!ver-
sity OF Virginia, and probably the most
distinguished chemist In the United
States. died at / o'clock this morning
OF pulmonary embolism in his eighty
first year after an illness of two
weeks. The funeral will take place
at $3.50 o'clock Tomorrow AFTER
noon from the university chapel. and
the interment will be in the university
cemetery.
In 1857 DR.. Mallet married Miss
Mary Elizabeth Ormond. daughter OF
Judge Ormond. Of the supreme Court
of Alabama. Three children were the
issue John 0. Mallet, who died In
young manhood Robert Mallet and
Mrs Mary e. Elliot. OF Georgia. HIS
second wife. who survives, was mrs.
Josephine pages Burthe, OF New Or
leans
Born in Dublin. ireland. In 1882, OF
English parents DR.. Mallet obtained
his doctorate at the University of Got
,ingen, and after graduating from the
University Of Dublin in 1858. came 70
this country in the same year, DecoM-
ing professor Of chemistry at the UNI
verslty of Alabama in 1855. There he
accomplished in 1856 the first import
ant work in physical chemistry per-
formed in this country. the determine
ton of the atomic weight OF lithiuh'
the highest metallic element known
This work firmly established his repu-
tation as a chemist Of the first rank;
and, when during the Civil War. the
Confederate government found neeo
for chemists to direct the manufacture
of explosives. Or. Mallet. at that time
a member of General Rodes's stan. was
transferred TO the artillery arm OF
the service and placed in supervision
of the manufacture OF ammunition. his
disting uished service to the cause leo
the government to promote him 10 the
rank of lieutenant colonel
Back to Glass Reon-
After the war Or. Mallet went back
to the class room as professor OF
chemistry In the medical department
of the University OF Louisiana In 1868
he came to the University Of Virginia
In 1850 he wasachosen by the National
Board of Health to consider and re-
port upon the proper analytical meth
cd. to be used in the analysis OF drink
ing waters So we'll was this work
done that 1t introduced him to ne"
field OF usefulness. He became ia
nous as an expert upon sanitary wa
ter supply. Not only was his ADVICE
eagerly sought far and wide In the
planning Of such supplies. but he was
very frequently called upon as an eA-
merit witness in legal cases involving
such questions in all parts Of the
country Indeed, his reputation as an
expert witness was but little less ex-
tensive than his fame as q scientisI
In 1888 DIR. Mallet went to the UNI
versity of Texas. as chairman OF the
faculty, and then to Jefferson Medicai
college. In Philadelphia, but return
ed to the University of Virginia in 1885
a, head of the school Of chemistry
He was retired on the Carnegie foun-
dalton four years ago.
DR. Mallets exhaustive tnvestiga-
lions. begun over a half-century ago.
upoc certain constants Of nature. have
stood the test of time and are clas-
sic. They include the atomic weight
! determinations Of aluminium the high
est useful metallic element known. ana
the only one which may make the