James Cutbush, an American Chemist, 1788-1823 — John Shaqi
James Cutbush, an American Chemist, 1788-1823Smith, Edgar Fahs
History
James Cutbush, an American Chemist, 1788-1823
Smith, Edgar Fahs
Chemists -- United States -- Biography; Cutbush, James, 1788-1823
"Thus chemistry is become an entirely new science. It is no
longer confined to the laboratory of the arts: it has
extended its flights to the sublimest heights of philosophy,
and pursues paths formerly regarded as impenetrable
mysteries. Placed forever in the elevated rank it now holds,
rich with all its new conquests, it is become the science
most adapted to the sublime speculations of philosophy, the
most useful in advancing all the operations of the arts, and
the most rational for scientific amusement. Exact in its
process, sure in its results, varied in its operations,
without limits in its applications and its views, severe and
geometrical in its reasoning, there is scarcely any human
occupation which it does not enlighten, and upon the
perfection of which it may not have great influence. It
bestows great enjoyment to every class of individuals: and
who would not be ambitious of becoming acquainted with a
science which enlightens almost every species of human
knowledge?"
Imagine for a moment the effect of such an enthusiastic proclamation
of the powers of chemistry on the readers of the Magazine! It would
be and no doubt was contagious, with the consequence that our science
was called upon to aid infant industries. Cutbush was far-visioned and
dreamed of the development of our Country's national resources. He had
the spirit of Woodhouse, Seybert and others, who, too, were actuated
for our Country's welfare, for its development physically and
spiritually, and how better could this be accomplished than through
the medium of science, and in large measure by chemical science?
In his historical resume Cutbush mentions some
"of the philosophers who have ... cultivated and enriched the
new theory of chemistry with discoveries which will forever
give immortality to their names, we have to notice Aikin,
Babington, Bancroft, Beddoes, Blagdon, Cavendish, Chenevix,
Crichton, Cruickshank, Davy, Lord Dundonald, Lord Dundas,
Fordyce, Garnett, Hatchett, Henry, Higgins, Hope, Howard,
Kirvan, Bishop of Llandaff, Murray, Nicholson, Pearson,
Tennant, Tilloch, Thompson, Wedgwood, and Wollaston; and
Achard, Crell, Gilbert, Gren, Goetling, Humboldt, Hermbstadt,
Klaproth, Lowitz, Richter, Scherer, Tromsdorff, Westrumb,
Wiegleb, Bertholet, Chaptal, Fourcroy, Lagrange, Guiton, Van
Mons, Proust, Sequin, Vauquelin, etc., etc."
To the modern chemist these names probably represent little. Perhaps a
few sound familiar, but the majority are unknown to him. For instance,
who would be apt to say much about the Bishop of Llandaff, who wrote
to Henry, author of one of the earliest and most delightful texts:
"CAMBRIDGE, Oct. 28, 1787."
"Sir--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account