COOPER, Thomas, American physicist and politician: b. London, 22 Oct. 1759; d. South Carolina, 11 May 1840. He was educated at Oxford, studied law and medicine and was admitted to the bar. Entering into the political agitations of the period, he was sent by the democratic clubs of England to the affiliated clubs in France. In this latter country he took part with the Girondists, but perceiving their inevitable downfall escaped to England. Ed mund Burke criticized with some severity the activities of Cooper and Watt in France, and provoked a caustic reply from the former, entitled Reply to Mr. Burke's Invective against Mr. Cooper and Mr. Watt) (1792). Its circulation was prohibited by the British govern ment. While in France he had learned the secret of making chlorine from common salt, and he now became a bleacher and calico printer in Manchester, but his business was unsuccess ful. He next came to America, and uniting with the Democrats opposed with vivacity the administration of John Adams. For a violent newspaper attack on Adams in 1799, he was tried for a libel under the Sedition Act of 1800, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment and a fine of $400. The Democratic party coming into power, he transacted in 1806 the business of a land commissioner on the part of the State of Pennsylvania with such energy as to tri umph over difficulties with the Connecticut claimants in Luzerne County, but being ap pointed to the office of judge, became obnoxious to members of his own party, and was removed in 1811. He then successfully occupied the
chair of chemistry in Dickinson College, in the University of Pennsylvania, and in Columbia College, S. C., of which last institution he be came president in 1820, and in which he was also professor of chemistry and political econ omy. On his retirement in 1834, the revision of the statutes of the State was confided to him, and he died in the performance of this duty. Cooper was alike eminent for the ver satility of his talent and the extent of his knowledge. He published in 1794, in London, a volume of 'Information Concerning Amer ica' ; in 1800 a collection of political essays; in 1812 a translation of the 'Institutes of Jus tinian'; in 1819 a work on 'Medical Juris prudence' ; in 1812-14 two of the five volumes entitled the 'Emporium of Arts and ; 'A Practical Treatise on Dyeing and Calico Printing) (1815) ; and in 1826 'Lectures on the Elements of Political Economy.>