1908-9.] Life and Chemical Work of Archibald S. Cooper. 195 
Besides the theoretical paper, Couper published a communication “ On 
some Derivatives of Benzene,” and, somewhat later, a very excellent 
experimental work, “ Researches on Salicylic Acid.” But just as Couper, 
through no fault of his, came too late with his theoretical paper, so also 
with his work on salicylic acid, in which he investigated the action of 
phosphorus pentachloride on salicylic acid, he had the misfortune that two 
of the most distinguished German chemists, August Kekule and Hermann 
Kolbe, as well as some others, repeated his experiments, but were unable to 
confirm his results. 
Here Couper’s appearance in chemistry comes to an end. Although his 
gifts seemed eminently to qualify him for a brilliant scientific career, no 
further communication of his is to be found in any scientific journal. 
How did this come about ? What became of Archibald Scott 
Couper ? 
My interest in Couper was first awakened by his work on the action of 
phosphorus pentachloride on salicylic acid, a subject on which I also was 
specially engaged. My sympathy with Couper grew when, in the course 
of the studies required for the preparation of a complete biography of 
Kekule, I found it necessary to go very thoroughly into Couper’s paper 
“ On a New Chemical Theory.” This paper of Couper’s must indeed 
always take its place beside that of Kekule “ On the Constitution and 
Metamorphoses of Chemical Compounds and on the Chemical Nature of 
Carbon.” 
The first information I obtained as to Couper’s life was from a letter of 
Greville Williams, to whom my honoured friend Heinrich Debus applied in 
order to help me. Some time ago, with Debus’ permission, I appended this 
letter as a note to my paper “ On the Action of the Pentachloride and of 
the Trichloride of Phosphorus on Substituted o-Phenolcarboxylic Acids,” 
published in Liebig s Annalen * and I repeat it here : — 
“21 Bournevale Road, Streatham, S.W., 
10th August 1903. 
“Dear Sir, — I grieve to say that I know nothing of the origin of poor Couper. 
I first became acquainted with him when I was assistant to Dr (afterwards Lord) 
Playfair in the University of Edinburgh, where Couper was a student in the 
laboratory, but he soon left. I only saw him once more, when he came up to me on 
the seashore at Dunoon on the Clyde, but he was then a complete wreck. I believe 
his trouble originated in sunstroke. I deeply regret being unable to give you more 
information about this great but unfortunate genius. — Yours very truly, 
“Greville Williams.” 
* cccxlvi. 291 (1906). 
