Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Muspratt, James Sheridan

1341338Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 39 — Muspratt, James Sheridan1894Philip Joseph Hartog

MUSPRATT, JAMES SHERIDAN (1821–1871), chemist, son of James Muspratt [q. v.], was born at Dublin on 8 March 1821. He first studied chemistry under T. Graham [q. v.] at the Andersonian University, Glasgow, and at University College, London. Before the age of seventeen he was entrusted with the chemical department at Peel Thompson's manufactory in Manchester. A little later he went to America, and entered into a business partnership which proved a failure. He returned to Europe, and in 1843 entered the laboratory of Liebig at Giessen, where he did his best work. He published in 1845 an important research on the sulphites, which served as his inaugural thesis for the degree of Ph.D., and also investigations on toluidine and nitraniline, which were first prepared by himself and A. W. Hofmann. After travelling for some years in Germany, he returned to England, and in 1848 founded the Liverpool College of Chemistry, a private institution for the training of chemists. In 1857 Muspratt succeeded to a share in his father's business. From 1854 to 1860 he was engaged in editing a large and readable dictionary of 'Chemistry ... as applied to the Arts and Manufactures,' of which several editions have been published in English, and in German and Russian translations. He also translated Plattner's classical treatise on the 'Blowpipe' (London, 8vo, 1845), and published 'Outlines of Analysis' (1849), and works on 'The Chemistry of Vegetation' and the 'Influence of Chemistry in the Animal, Vegetal, and Mineral Kingdoms.' The 'Royal Society's Catalogue' contains a list of thirty-five papers published independently, three in collaboration with Hofmann, and one with Danson.

In 1848 Muspratt married the American actress Susan Cushman, who died in 1859. Muspratt died on 3 April 1871 at West Derby, Liverpool.

A steel engraving from a photograph is prefixed to the first volume of Muspratt's 'Chemistry.'

[Besides the sources cited, see Biography of Sheridan Muspratt, by a London Barrister-at-Law, 1852; Biography by W. White, London, 1869; Men of the Time, 1868; Chem. News, xxiii. 82; Journ. Chem. Soc. xxiv. 620; H. Carrington Bolton's Bibliography of Chemistry, 1893.]

P. J. H.