Background
He was born in Philadelphia on October 25, 1792.
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Franklin Bache
Edit ProfileEducation
In 1810 he received the degree of A. B. from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1814 the degree of M. D.
Career
In 1811 he published in the Philadelphia Aurora (established by his father) a contribution on the composition of hydrochloric acid in which he contended that chlorine is simple and by its union with hydrogen gives hydrochloric acid. He contributed three excellent papers to the Memoirs of the Columbian Chemical Society (1813), bearing the titles, "An Inquiry into what circumstance will warrant us justly to reckon a substance a principle of a common property of any set of bodies"; "An Inquiry whether M. Berthollet was warranted, from certain experiments, in framing the Law of Chemical Affinity, 'that it is directly proportional to the quantity of Matter'"; "Thoughts on the Expediency of changing parts of the chemical nomenclature. " These papers were valuable contributions to the development of chemical theory in America.
The War of 1812 temporarily interrupted his scientific activities. He enlisted as an assistant-surgeon in the army in 1813, was promoted to surgeon in 1814, and resigned in 1816. In 1819 there appeared Bache's System of Chemistry for the Use of Students in Medicine. In 1821, with Robert Hare [q. v. ], he edited an edition of Andrew Ure's Dictionary of Chemistry, in 1823 he prepared a supplementary volume to William Henry's Elements of Experimental Chemistry, and in 1825 he published an anonymous edition of James Cutbush's System of Pyrotechny, while during 1826-31 he conducted the North American Medical and Surgical Journal. He was professor of chemistry in the Franklin Institute from 1826 to 1832, and in 1830 revised the Pharmacopoeia of the United States; he also at this time began his excellent Dispensatory of the United States of America, which passed through eleven editions during his life.
He was made Fellow of the College of Physicians, Philadelphia, 1829, and acted as its vice-president, 1855-64. From 1831 to 1841 he was professor of chemistry in the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. In 1836 he edited the third edition of Robert Hare's Compendium of the Course of Chemical Instruction in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and between 1819 and 1841 brought out four American editions of Edward Turner's Elements of Chemistry.
In 1841 he assumed the professorship of chemistry in Jefferson Medical College, delivering a notable introductory lecture whose tenor is indicated by the lines: "But here, gentlemen, let me stop to inquire is chemistry in its applications to medicine and pharmacy worthy of your regard? This is an important preliminary question; for if you follow the ensuing course under the erroneous impression that you can be reputable physicians without being chemists your attention will flag. " Similar introductory addresses were delivered by him in 1843, in 1844, in 1848, in 1849, and in 1852. For eighteen years he was secretary of the American Philosophical Society, vice-president for ten years, and finally president (1853 - 55).
Achievements
Membership
He was a member of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science.
Personality
He was regarded by his colleagues as a man of excellent reason and judgment, clear in thought and correct in conclusion; in mental action, as in bodily movements, slow and deliberate; a delightful companion because of his faculty of humor.
Connections
In 1818 he had married Aglae Dabadie, who entered heartily into her husband's literary and scientific pursuits, but died in 1835, leaving him "as her best legacy, a young family of sons and daughters to give exercise to his affections and comfort to his declining years. "
