ANNALS 



Of 



PHILOSOPHY. 



MARCH, 1815. 



Article I. 



A Biographical Account of David Ritlenhouse,* LL. D. F. R, S. 



late President of the American Philosophical Society. 



By Thomas Thomson, M.D. F.R.S. 



1 HE Rittenhouse family from which our philosopher was descended 

 emigrated from the province of Guelderland to New York, towards 

 the end of the l7th century, when that state was in the possession 

 of the Dutch. They soon removed to Germantown, in Pennsylvania, 

 where they establislied the first paper-mill ever erected in America. 

 Matthias, the youngest son of Nicholas Rittenhouse, our philoso- 

 pher's grandfather, was born at Germantown, about eight miles 

 from Philadelphia, in 1703. Having abandoned the occupation of 

 a paper-maker when about 29 years of age, and two years after his 

 father's death, he settled at Norriton, a farm which he had pur- 

 chased of about 150 acres, and situated about 20 miles from Phila- 

 delphia. In the year 1727 he had married Elizabeth Williams, the 

 daughter of Evan Williams, a native of Wales. This woman liad 

 been left an orphan, and was brought up by an old Gentleman in 

 the neighbourhood called Richard Jones. She possessed a cheerful 

 temper, and a mind uncommonly vigorous and comprehensive. f 



• Thr veneration in whirli this Gentleman was held in America, and the very 

 higli opinion entertained sf his genius and scientific atlaiimicut!;, induce me to 

 tuppoie that a short account of him will be accrplable to my readers. My infor- 

 mation H derived from a. biographical arroiuit of him published in Philadelphia in 

 1813, by hilt nephew, Mr. William Barton. 1 perused this book with much 

 ple^Duie. The views which it gives of politics, phiIosoph\, and religion, are 

 excellent, and such ub 1 scarcely expected from an Americaij philosopher of the 

 present day. 



+ Mr. Hurlon conceives that the abilities of David Rittenhouse were derived 



Vol. V. N" HI. L 



