Draper, JOHN WILLIAM

Draper, JOHN WILLIAM, a distinguished American author and man of science, was born at St Helens, near Liverpool, May 5, 1811. He received a course of chemical training in London, and in 1833 emigrated to Virginia. In 1836 he graduated with honours as a doctor of medicine at the university of Pennsylvania; and after holding for some time a professorship in Hampden-Sidney College, Virginia, he was called in 1839 to the chair of Chemistry in the university of New York. He did much to strengthen the medical department of that institution, of which he was for a long time the president. He wrote a large number of papers on scientific subjects, such as the chemical action of light, radiant energy, phosphorescence, spectrum analysis, photography, and the chemistry and physics of living organisms. Among his works are On the Forces that Produce the Organisation of Plants (1844), Scientific Memoirs (1878), a work on Physiology (1856), History of the Intellectual Development of Europe (1862), History of the American Civil War (3 vols. 1867-70), and a History of the Conflict between Science and Religion (1874). The last-named work had a wide success, and was translated into several languages. He died January 4, 1882.—His son, HENRY (1837-82), attained distinction as an original observer in astronomy and chemistry, working with great enthusiasm and success in both sciences.—Another son, JOHN CHRISTOPHER (1835-85), was a successful teacher of chemistry and physiology, and the author of various text-books and scientific memoirs.