Background
He was born on January 21, 1805 at Launceston, Cornwall, England, United kingdom, the son of Robert and Johanna (Dawe) Peter. He came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his parents in 1817.
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Geological-Reconnoissance-Indiana-Direction-Geologist/dp/1363764063?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1363764063
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Britain-Ireland-Excellence-Kentucky/dp/1373281782?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1373281782
https://www.amazon.com/History-Medical-Department-Transylvania-University-ebook/dp/B018PKBJ6A?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B018PKBJ6A
He was born on January 21, 1805 at Launceston, Cornwall, England, United kingdom, the son of Robert and Johanna (Dawe) Peter. He came to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his parents in 1817.
He attended the Rensselaer School (now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), Troy, New York. He studied medicine in Transylvania, receiving his diploma in 1834, but so intent upon his scientific pursuits was he that he soon gave up the practice of medicine.
When emigrating to the United States from necessity he sought employment and secured a position in Charles Avery's wholesale drug store. Here he acquired and diligently cultivated a decided taste for chemistry. Soon after attaining his majority he became a naturalized citizen.
He contributed to The Hesperus numerous papers - scientific, literary, and poetical. In 1829 he gave a series of lectures on natural sciences before the Pittsburgh Philosophical Society, and in 1830-31 he lectured on chemistry in the Western University of Pennsylvania.
In 1832 he went to Lexington, Kentucky, to be associated with Benjamin O. Peers in the proprietorship of his "Eclectic Institute" and to give a course of lectures. When Peers was made proctor of Morrison College and acting president of Transylvania University in 1833, young Peter was installed in the chair of chemistry in Morrison College.
To the Transylvania Journal of Medicine and Associate Sciences, of which he was editor in 1837, he made numerous contributions, among them being articles entitled "Thoughts on Some Application of Chemistry to Medicine" (October-December 1834), "Notice of the Crab Orchard Mineral Springs" (September 1835), and "A Summary of Meteorological Observations Made During 1837 and 1838" (January 1837 - July 1838). In 1838 Peter was elected to the chair of chemistry and pharmacy in the medical department of Transylvania University, which position he held until the closing of the school in 1857. During the last ten years he was dean of the medical faculty. He went to London and Paris in 1839 and expended $11, 000 in books and apparatus for his department. From 1850 to 1853 he also served as professor of chemistry and toxicology in the Kentucky School of Medicine, Louisville.
After his return from Europe he carried on much experimental work along practical lines. He also experimented with gun-cotton. He was also chemist for the Arkansas and Indiana surveys directed by David Dale Owen.
During the Civil War he was acting assistant surgeon in charge of military hospitals in Lexington. When, in 1865, Transylvania, Kentucky University, and the state Agricultural and Mechanical College were merged under the name of Kentucky University, Peter declined the presidency of the last-named and filled the chair of chemistry and experimental philosophy in the other two schools of the University. In 1867-68 he was assistant editor of the Farmer's Home Journal and afterwards was a frequent contributor. When the Agricultural and Mechanical College separated from the University in 1878, Peter chose to associate himself with the former as professor of chemistry, remaining in that position until he retired as emeritus professor in 1887.
He died at Winton, his country home, in his ninetieth year.
Robert Peter was fampuis for his study of calculi, published Chemical Examination of the Urinary Calculi. He also stimulated Kentucky geological survey of 1854, the first large state undertaking of its kind in the W. As chemist of the survey, he made a valuable contribution to knowledge of the minerals and soil of the state, the results of his studies being published in the various reports of the survey. He was the first to call attention to the fact that the productivity of the bluegrass soils of Kentucky is due to their high phosphorus content, and to report on the phosphatic limestone which underlies much of the bluegrass country.
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
He was a member of the Hesperian Society, Pittsburgh Philosophical Society.
He had youthful appearance, mental and physical vigor and happy outlook upon life.
On October 6, 1835, he was married to Frances Paca Dallam, and to this union were born six sons and five daughters. His son, Dr. Alfred M. Peter, was for forty-two years chemist in the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station.
