SIL'LIMAN, BENJAMIN (1779-1S64). An American scientist, born at North Stratford (now Trumbull), Conn., the on of Gold Selleck SiM ilian, a general in the army of the Revolution. After graduating at Yale in 1796 he studied law, became a tutor in Yale, was soon chosen to he a professor of natural science, and went abroad to fit himself for the chair in which he became a teacher of chemistry, mineralogy, geology, and pharmacy. He held his professor ship in Yale from 1802 to 1864—from 1853 onward as professor emeritus. He was honored and beloved as a teacher, and acquired even greater distinction as a lecturer, especially on geology. These courses began at New Haven in 1831, and were so much appreciated that Silli man was selected to give twenty-four lectures be fore the Lowell Institute of Boston, in its first session (1830-40). In ISIS he established the American Journal of Science (often quoted as 'Silliman's Journal'), which has been continued under successive members of his family to this day, and is still a leading American repository of scientific papers and intelligence. With Dr. Robert Hare he constructed the compound blow pipe. Ile published after his return from Eng land a narrative of his journey, and fifty years later, at the end of a second journey, he pub lished a similar memoir. His Tour to Quebec (1819) w•as likewise widely read. His contribu tions to science were not numerous, one of those most famous at the time being an account (with .1. L. Kingsley) of a remarkable meteor which fell at Weston in 1807. His Life was written by
Professor George P. Fisher and published in two volumes (New York, 1868). Many entertaining reminiscences of his distinguished contemporaries are given in these volumes. During his long career SiInman was an active participant in all the affairs of Yale College—the organization of the Medical School, the formation of a cabinet of minerals, the acquisition of Colonel Truer bull's paintings, and the purchase of the Clark telescope.
His son, BENJAMIN, JR. (1816-S5), was also a chemist, and was born in New Haven, Conn. He graduated at Yale College in 1837, becoming an assistant to his father, and in 1842 fitted up, in one of the college buildings, a chemical labora tory, out of which grew the foundation in 1847 of the Yale (now Sheffield) Scientific School. He was professor of medical chemistry and toxi cology in the University of Louisville, Ky., from 1849 to 1854. In 1854 lie succeeded his father in the chair of chemistry, which he retained until 1870, continuing, however, to lecture in the medical department until his death. He gave popular lectures on scientific topics throughout the country, and was one of the editors of the American Journal of Science. He was the au thor of First Principles of Chemistry (1846; 2d ed. 1856) ; Principles of Physics (1858; ed. e. 1868) ; and American Contributions to Chemis try (1875).