Background
Michael was born on August 7, 1853, in Buffalo, New York, United States; the son of John and Clara (Pinner) Michael.
Michael was born on August 7, 1853, in Buffalo, New York, United States; the son of John and Clara (Pinner) Michael.
Michael studied chemistry at Heidelberg University under Robert Bunsen and at the University of Berlin under August Wilhelm Hofmann. Arthur then studied under Adolphe Wurtz in Ecole de Medecine in Paris and with Dmitri Mendeleev in St. Petersburg.
Michael returned to America in 1880. A year later he began his career as an Assistant in the Chemical Laboratory of Tufts College (now Tufts University). In 1882, he became a Professor of Chemistry at that college and held it for seven years.
In 1889, Arthur accepted a position as Head of the Department of Chemistry at the Clark University. A few months later he resigned from this position and established a private laboratory on the Isle of Wight, where he pursued his researches for four years.
In 1894, Michael returned to Tufts College and remained there until 1907 when he became Professor Emeritus, whereupon he established a private laboratory on his estate at Newton Center. In 1912, Michael was appointed Professor of Organic Chemistry at Harvard University and there he stayed until his retirement in 1936.
Michael was a member of National Academy of Sciences.
Michael was an eager, alert, but retiring personality, deeply immersed in his scientific and artistic pursuits. He had few intimates and he shunned publicity. As a teacher, he was stimulating and inspiring and uncompromising in his insistence on thoroughness and accuracy. Michael was always very fond of children, although he never had any of his own.
Married Helen C. Abbott, June 1889.