SKETCH OF JAMES ELY THE ROGERS. 265 



dents. He was for a time Professor of Chemistry in the Franklin 

 Medical College, and represented this institution in the National 

 Medical Convention, held in Philadelphia in 1847, which organ- 

 ized the American Medical Association. 



In 1847 he succeeded the celebrated Dr. Robert Hare as Pro- 

 fessor of Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania — a curious 

 coincidence in connection with his father's succeeding Dr. Hare 

 at Williamsburg. In this position he remained until his death, 

 five years later. He was also one of the representatives of the 

 university in the National Convention of 1850 for revising the 

 Pharmacopoeia of the United States. 



In 1846 he was elected to membership in the American Philo- 

 sophical Society, and the following year joined the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



Dr. Rogers was of slight frame and never enjoyed robust 

 health. In his latter years he suffered at times from nervous 

 exhaustion and defective nutrition, probably induced by un- 

 remitting labor. He died June 15, 1852, leaving a widow, 

 two sons, William B. and Henry A., also a daughter, Mary V. 

 Rogers. 



Never favored by prosperity. Dr. Rogers was particularly 

 straitened in circumstances during the first part of his residence 

 in Philadelphia. It was not until he entered upon his last pro- 

 fessorship that he received a comfortable salary. The institutions 

 with which he had been connected before were small and weak or 

 came to grief in some way that could not be anticipated. While 

 lack of shrewdness and assertiveness on his own part may have 

 contributed to hinder his advancement, his worth as a teacher is 

 beyond question. He was everywhere esteemed by his colleagues 

 and popular among his students. Dr. Carson said of him, " Dis- 

 interested and generous in his relations with the world, mild and 

 conciliating in deportment, open and affable when approached, 

 urbane to every one, his virtues shone conspicuously within the 

 circle of his friends. With his pupils he was sympathizing ; he 

 entered cheerfully into their discouragements and difiBculties ; 

 and those who confided to him received that encouragement and 

 counsel so grateful to the student's feelings. He was emphatic- 

 ally the student's friend." 



At the School of Horticulture, Geneva, Switzerland, fourteen professors 

 are engaged in teaching the various branches of the science, which include 

 floriculture, arboriculture, kitchen gardening, landscape architecture, forest 

 culture, vine dressing, zoology, bee raising, botany, chemistry, and metal- 

 lurgy. A considerable part of the school day is devoted to practical work 

 under the direction of five superintendents. 



