John Fries Frazer
Encyclopedia
John Fries Frazer was a University of Pennsylvania
graduate and first assistant geologist
to the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania
. He became a professor of Natural philosophy and Chemistry and in later years he became Vice Provost of the University of Pennsylvania
.
, who had fought in the American Revolution
.
He was the youngest of five children, taking his middle name from his mother, Elizabeth Fries, who died when he was about two years old.His father died in 1820, and he was placed in the custody of his maternal grandfather, John Fries.
His early education was at the school in Germantown
, then at Captain Partridge's Military Academy in Connecticut
for a year, after which he went to stay with Rev. Samuel B. Wylie in Philadelphia, who educated him at home.
, where he studied magnetic variance and the Aurora Borealis.
He then studied law, and briefly practiced as a lawyer from 1833, before turning to the study of medicine.
He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences in September 1835 and of the Franklin Institute
in November 1835.
He assisted in the geological survey of Pennsylvania in 1836, under professor Henry Darwin Rogers
.
Frazer was a professor at the Philadelphia high school from 1836 to 1844, when he was chosen as Professor of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Philadelphia to replace professor Bache, a position he held until his death.
For a period, he studied in the laboratory that James Curtis Booth
, the eminent chemist, established in 1836.
He received an honorary Ph.D. in 1854 from the University of Lewisburg, and in 1857 was awarded an LL.D. from Harvard University
.
He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
in 1842, became secretary in 1845 and Vice-President from 1855 until his resignation in 1858. He was re-elected to the society in 1867.
In 1863, he was one of the original members of the National Academy of Sciences
when that body was established.
Frazer married in 1838, and was to have two daughters and a son, Persifor, who later also studied at Booth's laboratory and became professor of Chemistry at the university after his father's death.
Frazer suffered from a disease of the liver, which caused frequent fainting fits. He was forced to take an extended vacation to Europe in 1856, and again in 1867/1868. He died suddenly of a heart attack on 12 October 1872 the day after the new university building had been inaugurated in West Philadelphia.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
graduate and first assistant geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
to the Geological Survey of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He became a professor of Natural philosophy and Chemistry and in later years he became Vice Provost of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
Childhood
Frazer was born in Philadelphia on 8 July 1812, son of the successful lawyer Robert Frazer and grandson of Lieutenant Colonel Persifor FrazerPersifor Frazer
Persifor Frazer was an American farmer, soldier, and industrialist, and the founder of one of the most prominent families of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, who had fought in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
He was the youngest of five children, taking his middle name from his mother, Elizabeth Fries, who died when he was about two years old.His father died in 1820, and he was placed in the custody of his maternal grandfather, John Fries.
His early education was at the school in Germantown
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Germantown is a neighborhood in the northwest section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, about 7–8 miles northwest from the center of the city...
, then at Captain Partridge's Military Academy in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
for a year, after which he went to stay with Rev. Samuel B. Wylie in Philadelphia, who educated him at home.
Higher education
Frazer was admitted to the University of Pennsylvania in 1828, where he became interested in science. While at the university, and for some time after graduating, he assisted in the laboratory of professor Alexander Dallas BacheAlexander Dallas Bache
Alexander Dallas Bache was an American physicist, scientist and surveyor who erected coastal fortifications and conducted a detailed survey mapping of the United States coastline.-Biography:...
, where he studied magnetic variance and the Aurora Borealis.
He then studied law, and briefly practiced as a lawyer from 1833, before turning to the study of medicine.
He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences in September 1835 and of the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
in November 1835.
He assisted in the geological survey of Pennsylvania in 1836, under professor Henry Darwin Rogers
Henry Darwin Rogers
Henry Darwin Rogers FRS FRSE was an American geologist.-Biography:Rogers was born at Philadelphia. His middle name was given him in honor of Erasmus Darwin, of whose poem “The Botanic Garden” his father was a great admirer...
.
Frazer was a professor at the Philadelphia high school from 1836 to 1844, when he was chosen as Professor of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Philadelphia to replace professor Bache, a position he held until his death.
For a period, he studied in the laboratory that James Curtis Booth
James Curtis Booth
James Curtis Booth was a United States chemist who was the melter and refiner at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia for many years.-Life:Booth was born in Philadelphia on 28 July 1810, and was educated at the Hartsville Seminary....
, the eminent chemist, established in 1836.
Professor of Chemistry and Physics
Frazer gave lectures on the physical and chemical sciences at the Franklin Institute, and was editor of the institute's journal from 1850 to 1866.He received an honorary Ph.D. in 1854 from the University of Lewisburg, and in 1857 was awarded an LL.D. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in 1842, became secretary in 1845 and Vice-President from 1855 until his resignation in 1858. He was re-elected to the society in 1867.
In 1863, he was one of the original members of the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
when that body was established.
Frazer married in 1838, and was to have two daughters and a son, Persifor, who later also studied at Booth's laboratory and became professor of Chemistry at the university after his father's death.
Frazer suffered from a disease of the liver, which caused frequent fainting fits. He was forced to take an extended vacation to Europe in 1856, and again in 1867/1868. He died suddenly of a heart attack on 12 October 1872 the day after the new university building had been inaugurated in West Philadelphia.