Pioneers of Science in America

Pioneers of Science in America
by William Jay Youmans

Preface & Contents

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1174140Pioneers of Science in America — Preface & ContentsWilliam Jay Youmans

PIONEERS OF
SCIENCE IN AMERICA

Sketches of their Lives and Scientific Work

REPRINTED WITH ADDITIONS
FROM THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY

EDITED AND REVISED BY

William Jay Youmans, M. D.

WITH PORTRAITS

NEW YORK
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY
1896

Copyright, 1896
By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.

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PREFACE.

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The development of science during the last hundred years, with its multiplied and ever-increasing contributions to the welfare of man, is justly looked upon as the beginning of one of the most marvellous periods of progress in the history of the race. Though we are still in the early stages of this advance, its effects are already abundantly apparent. It has revolutionized the industries of the civilized world, has given us new and more intimate commercial relations, has swept away traditional educational standards, and by its stimulating influence is redirecting and extending the movement of human thought.

In this country the men who took a prominent part in the initiation of these wonderful changes were comparatively few, while the disadvantages they had to contend with were many and serious. Scattered over a large extent of undeveloped territory, unable to secure the benefits of co-operation, poor in pocket, and generally lacking the sympathy when they did not meet the active opposition of their fellow-men, the work they did as teachers and original investigators forms one of the most creditable chapters of our early history, and unquestionably paved the way for those later scientific achievements of which as a nation we may well be proud. Surely the careers of these men are quite as worthy the contemplation of both young and old as are the doings of heroes of carnage and political strife.

The purpose of the present volume is to point out, though without any pretensions to completeness, the character and scope of the work of these interesting scientific worthies, and to give the reader, briefly in each instance, such accounts of the men as will enable him to appreciate something of their personal characteristics, and to know and admire their enthusiastic love of Nature, which carried them over every obstacle in the pursuit of their chosen study.

Nearly all of the biographies appeared originally in the Popular Science Monthly, in which magazine such accounts have long been considered by many of its readers one of its most interesting features. The accompanying portraits, as will be seen, are in every instance well authenticated. In collecting the materials for the Monthly no effort was spared to reach the most trustworthy sources of information. Surviving relatives when accessible, the records of educational institutions, public documents, and published biographies in the few cases where these existed, were freely consulted, especial care being taken to verify names, dates, and other important facts. The accuracy thus secured in the first instance has been made more perfect by a thorough revision of the matter for this volume.

The number of biographies included in the book is limited to fifty. Of course it is not claimed that these comprise all the names in American science that are entitled to a like distinction; but beginning with the time of Franklin, prior to which we have found no record of the systematic pursuit of science by anyone in this country, the plan has been to present the various personages in the order of their birth, making the list as complete as possible as far as it went. This brings it down to about the year 1810, the working period of many of those included thus falling within the present century. Should the book be found of sufficient interest to warrant the venture, a second volume on a similar plan may follow.

I am indebted to Mr. W. H. Larrabee for the preparation of the sketch which opens the volume. This involved a long and painstaking search through a very considerable literature, and so far as I know it is the first systematic account of what Franklin did in science that has appeared. My acknowledgments are also due to Mr. F. A. Fernald for valuable aid in the work of revision and in seeing the book through the press.

W. J. Y.

New York, January 12, 1896.