Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Goessmann, Charles Anthony

GOESSMANN, Charles Anthony, chemist, b. in Naumburg, Germany, 13 June, 1827. He was educated at the gymnasium in Fritzlar, and then studied under Friedrich Wöhler in the University of Göttingen, where he received the degree of Ph. D. in 1853. From 1852 till 1857 he was assistant in the chemical laboratory, and privat-docent in the university. He then came to the United States, and at first was engaged in the development of the salt industry in New York and Michigan. In 1862 he became professor of chemistry in the Rensselaer polytechnic institute in Troy, but resigned that chair after two years. He was elected in 1869 to the chair of chemistry in the Massachusetts agricultural college, and in addition to his professorship has been chemist to the Massachusetts state board of agriculture since 1873, director of the state agricultural experiment station since 1882, and analyst of the Massachusetts state board of health since 1883. His contributions to chemical literature have been numerous, and include, prior to his coming to the United States, papers on organic acids contributed to the “Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie.” Dr. Goessmann's later papers include articles on sugar, salt, various foods, and special fertilization of plants. These have appeared chiefly in the reports of the organizations with which he has been connected.