Evening star., 1932-10-23
FORMER MUSEUM
EDITOR SUCCUMBS
DR.. Marcus Benjamin Dead
at 75-Rites Tomorrow
at Cathedral.

long a familiar figure in the cultura
life of Washington, died at his home
in the Highlands Apartments, Connect
cut and California avenues, yesterday
afternoon at O'clock He was Il
years Of age. and had been in failing
health for several months
Born at San Francisco. January II
1857, the son OF Edmund Burke and
Sarah Mitchell Benjamin, DR.. Ben
jamin came of stock eminent in Brit
ish and American history through three
centuries. He was descended from John
Benjamin, who settled at Boston in 1882
and also. through the celebrated Ly-
man family. from Alfred the Great and
Charlemagne.
His home was in the neighborhood
of San Francisco during the first de-
cade of his life.
Settle in New York.
In 1867 the Benjamins settled in
New York. Marcus lad the privilege
OF visit to Europe in 1863 and 1869
and used the opportunity to study Ger
man and French. In Paris in August
1870, he witnessed the return of the
CuirraSsiers. who had covered Mac
Mahon's rereat following the Battle of
Worth
Back in America, he entered the Col
leee of the City of New York Two
years later he enrolled in the School Of
Mines. Columbia University. and gradu-
ated in 1878 While at Columbia he
contributed to college publications and
did some editorial work of a scientific
nature. He was a founder and the first
secretary of the School Of Mines Chemi-
cal Society. Years later. in 1923. he
was awarded the gold emblem of King S
Crown in appreciation of his under
graduate activities
During the years 1882 Dr. Ben
iamin was associated with his father.
dealer in chemicals, a connection
with distinguished chemists. including
BENJAMIN Silliman, Wolcott Gibbs.
Frank w. Clarke Harvey w. Wiley and
others. He made digestS and transla-
tlons from numerous foreign publica-
tions and contributed to the Scientific
American and other magazines
From 1852 to 1885 he edited the
American Pharmacist and its successor,
the Weekly Drug News. He also wrote
at this time for the New York Daily
News and for Appletons Annual Cy-
clopaedia." In 1883 he was appo ointed
chemist OF the appraisers stores of the
United States Treasury Department.
New York. position which he relin-
uuished at the time of President Cleve-
lands election. Subsequently he served
as sanitary inspector for the Metro
politan Board of Health. Meanwhile he
continued his literary labors. writing
for the Mineral Resources of the United
States REPORTS OF Tho United States Geo.
logical SJrvev. lsS4-36, and fer the
Cyclopae edia CT American Biography
Recipient of Degrees
Recognition Of his scholarship came
to DR.. Benjamin in the form of sca-
den1ic degrees and citations including
A. NJ, Lafayette College, 1888, and Phi.
D.. University of Nashville. 1889.
He wrote FOR the Engineering and
filming Journal in the early COS. saw
through the press Dr. George F. Kunzs
book on Gems and Precious Stones, -
edited Appleton's Hand Book of Win
ter Resorts" Hand Book Of Summer
Resorts" and General Guide to the
United States and Canada" and re-
Used the Dictionary of New York
City" and canadian Guide Books" of
several editions. He was editor in chief
of Appletons New Practical Cyclic
paedia" and one of the editorial staff
Of The American Ye-- Book" AS a
member of the staff of the STANDARD
Dictionary" he prepared all the def1ni-
tlons in chemistry and many of those
in technology. He was a member of
the jury Of awards of the Columbian
Exposition in 1898.
AS a contributor to the Universal
Cyclopaedia." the New International
Encyclopaedia" and the international
Year Book" he advanced his claims as
an authority on chemical theory and
history. A natural development was
his appointment to ;ile staff of the
Smithsonian institution in 1855. A.
first he was an assis,al. 70 D.. G
Brown Goode in the preparation of the
half-century history Of the institution
but in April, 1896, he was appo nted
editor Of the United States National
Museum. in which position he found
ample opportunities for the exercise of
his talents and the expenditure of his
devotion until January 81, 1881, when
he retired with pension.
At the Museum DR.. Benjamin had
editorial charge of the annual reports,
proceedings and bulletins seeing
through the press each year five or more
large octave volumes. probably aggre-
eating nearly 800 in number.
DR.. Benjanl was a man of extraordi-
nary scope of mind. and his avocational
interests we're numerous ard extensive
He wa sa baron of the Order of Runne-
meoe. an incorporation and MrSt wee
president of the Society Of Deser dantS
Of Knights of the Nest Nobe OrGer O.:
the Garter a governor and historian Of
the Society Of Colonial Wars, a presi-
dent of the District of Columbia So
ciety of the Sons of the Revolution. a
founder and president of the District
of Columbia Society Cf the War OF 1912.
a member of the St Nicholas Society of
New York and a member of the Cosmos
Club of Washington. He also was vice
president of the Citizens Committee to
Mark Points of Historic Interest il the
District Of Columbia and the ccmDilcr
Of their handbook Pe wrote New
York During the Revolution and ,di.e l
Washington During War Time" he
was active in the restoration of Wake
field, the birthplace CT George Wash
irgton. and in the preservation Of
Monticello, the home of Thomas Jeffer-
son.
He served on juries of awards at the
Tennessee Centennial Exposition, 1897;
the TransmissisG:ppi Exposition, 1895;
the Pan-American Exposition, 1900. aid
the Charleston Exposition. 1901: alSo CT
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the
jamestown Exposition and the Sesq'I
Centennial Exposition. Philadelphia. He
received gold and silver medals in aO-
probation of his services IN th"sa con-
nections. as we'll as numerous d plomas
and certificates.
Honored by Frarcc.
Dr. Benjamin was a member Of tie
United States Assay Commission as
early as 1896 and as late as 1924. Dut-
ing the World War he received the
thanks of the Navy Department for his
assistance TIE French government
conferred upon him the decoration OF
the Golden Palms, with the rank OF
Oficer de INSTRUCTION Publiquc The
Italian government presented to him
the Order of the Crown Of Italy, with
the rank of oavaliere and late Officer.
Columbia University awarded him
special medal in 1880,
He was a fellow of the London Cheml-
cal Society, member of the Society
of Chemical Industry. and an officer OF