HARMON NORTHROP MORSE 



Compiled by Ira Remsen 



Harmon Northrop Morse was born and brought up among the Green Mountains in a most 

 picturesque region of rugged Vermont. The Lamoille River flows about his father's farm and 

 is full of wild beauty. Ancient forests clothe the mountains, and the clearest of brooks sparkle 

 as they rush down the hillsides. 



His earliest paternal American ancestor was John Morse, who came from England in 1639 

 and settled at New Haven. 



His father, Harmon Morse, was a behever in hard work, few holidays, and little schooling. 

 He looked upon all forms of recreation as objectionable. The death of the boy's mother when 

 he was too young to remember her removed a much-needed gracious and loving influence. His 

 brother Anson and his young sister Delia were comrades and comforters in his life, which for 

 the most part lacked the elements of love and geniality. 



The courage and ambition of the boy overcame all obstacles and difficulties. His maternal 

 grandfather left a legacy whereby each of the three children was enabled to prepare for higher 

 education, and thus Harmon was led to Amherst College, entering in 1869. 



His passion for work and his keen and investigating mental processes dated back to his 

 boyhood days, and were a heritage from his honored forefathers. 



He was born at Cambridge, Vt., October 15, 1848, and died September 8, 1920. He was 

 married December 13, 1876, to Caroline Augusta Brooks, of Montpelier, Vt. She died in 1887. 

 He was married again, December 24, 1890, to Elizabeth Dennis Clarke, of Portland, Me. 

 She survives him. 



Having thus in brief outline stated a few of the main facts in the life of Professor Morse, it 

 now seems best to let some of those who knew him best tell of him and his work. Shortly after 

 his death, the compiler of this notice was asked to prepare a sketch for Science. This was 

 published November 26, 1920, and is here reproduced. On Sunday, April 24, 1921, a meeting 

 in memory of Professor Morse was held at the Johns Hopkins University. President Good- 

 now presided at the meeting. Addresses were made by former President Remsen, for many 

 years a colleague and friend of Professor Morse; President Woodward, of the Carnegie Insti- 

 tution of Washington; Prof. J. C. W. Frazer, of the Department of Chemistry; and Dr. W. H. 

 Howell, of the School of Hygiene and Public Health. As Doctor Remsen spoke without manu- 

 script, the brief article from Science is substituted for his address. The addresses of the others 

 named are given in full. 



I. DOCTOR REMSEN'S ARTICLE FROM SCIENCE 



After a long life spent in service in Johns Hopkins University, Professor Morse died Sep- 

 tember 8, in the seventy-second year of his age. He was born October 15, 1848, at Cambridge, 

 Vt., the son of a farmer, and died at Chebeague, Me., where he had spent his summers for many 

 years. He was graduated from Amherst College in 1873, then went to Gottingen, and received 

 the degree of Ph. D. from that university in 1875. The year 1S75-76 was spent at Amherst as 

 assistant in chemistry. In 1875' it was announced that the Johns Hopkins University would 

 begin its work in 1876. Shortly after it became known that the writer of this notice was to be 

 the professor of chemistry in the new university he received a call from Morse, who brought a 

 letter of introduction from Emerson. This letter led me to take more than ordinary interest 

 in the bearer. Whatever we were to do in Baltimore, it seemed clear that I should need an 

 assistant, and I told him I would in due time arrange for his appointment. Hearing a little 

 later of the fellowships that were to be awarded, I secured one of these for Morse, and so his 

 connection with the Johns Hopkins University began. Before the doors were opened, however, 

 he was designated associate, and we began our work together for better or for worse. We had 

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