.^rans.N.Y.Ac.Sci. 106 Feb.d, 



reported the following minute, which was read by Prof. D. S. 

 Martin : 



Whereas, The recent death of Prof. John W. Draper has re- 

 moved from among us one of the oldest and most distinguished mem- 

 bers of the Academy, and one of the most eminent original investi- 

 gators in the realm of physical science , therefore. 



Resolved, That the Academy would hereby express its profound 

 appreciation of the high attainments and honorable services of our 

 late associate, and its sense of sorrow and loss in his departure from 

 our sphere ; and that we cannot suffer this event to pass without a 

 brief tribute to his revered and cherished memory. 



Prof. John William Draper was born in 1811, at St. Helens, near 

 Liverpool, England. Having received a thorough preliminary edu- 

 cation, he was sent to the newly-opened London University, in 1829, 

 that he might study chemrstry under Dr. Turner. Urged by relations, 

 he came to America in 1833, and soon afterwards began the study of 

 medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was gradu- 

 ated in 1836. 



Immediately after his graduation. Dr. Draper went to Hampden 

 Sidney College, as Professor of Chemistry and Physiology, to which 

 chair he had been elected before receiving his degree. There he began 

 that remarkable series of investigations which ended only with his life, 

 and which has had so important a bearing on the progress of discovery 

 in several branches of physics. The results of his earlier researches 

 were published in \.\\.^ American Journal of Science and in ih^ London 

 Philosophical Journal ; and, together with later discussions, were col- 

 lected into one quarto volume, which was published in 1844, under the 

 general title of The Chemistry of Plants. 



The interest awakened by these earlier investigations secured for 

 Dr. Draper the appointment of Professor of Chemistry and Physiology 

 in the University of the City of New York. He was originally as- 

 signed to a chair in the Medical Department, but owing to the financial 

 disaster of 1837, the Medical School was not organized at once, and 

 Dr. Draper began his work in the Collegiate Department of the 

 University, in 1839. He remained in the discharge of his duties until 

 within a few months of his death. 



To Dr. Draper is due, in a great measure, the prominence of New 

 York City as a centre of medical education. Previous to 1840, the 

 number of students attending the Medical School seldom exceeded 

 fifty, and oftener fell below. But in that year the Medical Depart- 

 ment of the University was organized, and under the management of 

 Dr. Draper, as Secretary of the Faculty, classes of almost 150 students 



