THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
NOVEMBER,  1886. 
MEMOIR  OF  PETER  WILLIAMSON. 
Kead  before  the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  at  a  Stated  Meeting,  September  27,  1886. 
Peter  Williamson,  one  of  the  original  members  associated  in  found- 
ing the  Philadelphia  College  of  Pharmacy,  deceased  at  his  residence 
on  Pine  street,  in  this  city,  on  the  6th  of  March,  1886,  in  the  ninety- 
first  year  of  his  age. 
The  parents  of  Peter — Jesse  and  Mary  Williamson — came  to  Phil- 
adelphia from  Bucks  county,  his  father  pursuing  the  occupation  of  a 
carpenter  and  builder.  He  deceased  in  1853,  leaving  what  was  then 
considered  as  a  large  estate,  as  evidence  of  his  success  in  business. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  religious  society  of  Friends,  and  highly 
esteemed. 
Peter  Williamson  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  September  6,  1795, 
receiving  his  education  at  a  Friends'  seminary.  He  was  led  by  in- 
clination to  learn  the  business  of  a  druggist,  and  engaged  with  John 
W.  Bryant,  whose  store  was  located  at  Second  and  Pine  streets. 
At  the  early  age  of  eighteen  years  he  entered  into  partnership  with 
Dr.  Joseph  Klapp,  whose  store  was  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Second 
and  Almond  streets.  Dr.  Klapp  had  an  extended  practice  in  his 
profession,  and  Peter  a  natural  adaptation  for  the  dispensing  business. 
The  firm  of  Klapp  &  Williamson  soon  became  prosperous,  and  con- 
tinued for  many  years  the  leading  retail  drug  store  in  the  old  district 
of  South wark.  Dr.  Klapp  retired  from  the  firm  in  1828,  and  the 
business  was  continued  by  Mr.  Williamson.  Adding  to  his  large 
retail  trade  the  specialty  of  medical  supplies  for  shipping,  and  a  manu- 
facturing and  jobbing  trade,  the  demand  for  a  larger  store  and  in- 
creased facilities  induced  him  in  1836  to  erect  the  store  at  710  South 
Second  street  and  the  dwelling  adjoining. 
In  1845  he  associated  with  him  in  business  his  son  Jesse  William- 
son, Jr.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Peter  Williamson  &  Son.  After 
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