Dana — American Journal of Science, 1818-1918. 11 



1828-. Journal of the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, from 

 1826; earlier (1825). the American Mechanics Magazine. 



1832-. Annalen der Chemie (und Pharmacie) often known 

 as Liebig's Annalen. Leipzig, Lemgo. 



The Founder of the American Journal of Science. 



The establishment of a scientific journal in this country 

 in 1818 was a pioneer undertaking, requiring of its 

 founder a rare degree of energy, courage, and confidence 

 in the future. It was necessary, not only to obtain the 

 material to fill its pages and the money to carry on the 

 enterprise, but, before the latter end could be accom- 

 plished, an audience must be found among those who had 

 hitherto felt little or no interest in the sciences. This 

 great work was accomplished by Benjamin Silliman, 

 "the guardian of American Science,''" whose influence 

 was second to none in the early development of science in 

 this country. Before speaking in some detail of the 

 early years of this Journal and of its subsequent history, 

 it is proper that some words should be given to its 

 founder. 



Benjamin Silliman, son of a general prominent in the 

 Revolutionary War, was born in Trumbull, Connecticut, 

 on August 8, 1779. He was a graduate of Yale College 

 of the class of 1796. Though at first a student of law and 

 accepted for the bar in Connecticut, he was called in 1802 

 by President Timothy Dwight — a man of rare breadth of 

 mind — to occupy the newly-made chair of chemistry, min- 

 eralogy (and later geology) in Yale College at New 

 Haven. To fit himself for the work before him he 

 carried on extensive studies at home and in Philadelphia 

 and spent the year 1805 in travels and study at London 

 and Edinburgh, and also on the Continent. His active 

 duties began in 1806 and from this time on he was in the 

 service of Yale College until his resignation in 1853. 

 From the first, Silliman met with remarkable success as a 

 teacher and public lecturer in arousing an interest in 

 science. His breadth of knowledge, his enthusiasm for 

 his chosen subjects and power of clear presentation, com- 

 bined with his fine presence and attractive personality, 

 made him a great leader in the science of the country and 

 gave him a unique position in the history of its develop- 

 ment. 



Much might be said of the man and his work, but, the 



