Norwich bulletin., 1922-04-08
FAMOUS MEN.
BENJAMIN SULLIVAN

Benjamin Silliman, one of the most remarkable of all of Americas talent ed scientists, had an unusual long and active career in his profession and in the instruction of 1t, during more than half a century of his life. He kept up hs work almost to the day of his death, at the age of S5.
 MT. Silliman died on November 24, 1864, and in his diary of four days i before his death he notes: T attended the college chapel in my usual health and might have so remained had not gone out again in this evening, but l feel i'll. I am warned that my health, though usually so good, may be in an instant subverted and that the call for departure may be sudden" On the following day he notes: 1T have been able to resume my pen and am gradually recovering my usual state of feeling" On Tuesday he felt stronger and made several calls in the | neighborhood of his home, in New Ha- ven. On Wednesday, he received Yari- l ous friends and evinced much vivacity ! in conversation. Early on Thursday morning he awolze from sound sleep. It was Thanksgiving Day and he pray i ed audibly for his country, for his l family and especially for his absent
 son.
 He seemed much refreshed by sleep, and he expressed a wish to go to the
 Thanksgiving service at his church As he was expressing to Mrs. Silliman the gratitude and affection he felt for her, he drew a long breath-and il was his last Without a struggle, in a moment, his noble, gentle spirit passed from it's earthly tenement.
 | Benjamin Silliman lived practically all of his life in New Haven. Early in life natural science attracted his at l tention, and when he was g years of age he was chosen professor of ohemiS- try and natural history at Yale. From
 this date, in 1902, until 1853, the long period of fifty-one years, Professos ] SilIiman held the chair of chemistry Lmineralogy and geology, at the Yale University, and in the latter year he
 was made professor emeritus, although he continued his lectures for several years longer.
 Professor Silliman was chosen first lpresident in 1S40 when he was 61 years of age, of the American Association ot Geologists and Naturalists, and he waS
 one of the corporate members named by Congress in the formation of tht
 National Academy of Sciences, in 1863
 being then 84 years of age.
 l The situation of Professor Sillimal
 in the last years of his life was hap
 pier than usually falls to the lot O men. Though never rich, he was fre from want, and his health, considering
 his advanced age, was remarka bl,
 sound. During his entire life, he wa Lseldom confined to the house by an
 body indisposition.
 Mir SillBman was industrious to tn
 end He knew how to fill up the time
 Many hours each day he would req
 aloud to Mrs Silliman. Many nor hours in his last years he devoted t the composition of the re1iniscence of his own life. In addition to thes labors he wrote a copious account c the character and services of his ia , ther, which he regarded as a piou
 duty, and din to feel at rest until h
 had fulfilled It. He was an ardent dia f rist and every day, almost from hi ! youth, he noted in this way happening
 that interested him most down to tw [ days before his death.