Silas Hamilton Douglas
Silas Hamilton Douglas, chemist, born in Fredonia, New York, 16
October 1816, the son of Benjamin Douglass, born 1785, a
descendant of Deacon William Douglas, born 1610. He was educated at the academy in Fredonia, and then
entered the office of Dr. Zina Pitcher in Detroit, Michigan, for the
study of medicine, after which he was graduated in Baltimore as a
physician, and entered on the practice of his profession in
Dearborn, Michigan.
In 1844 he was appointed instructor in
chemistry in the University of Michigan, and at once was given
charge of that department, Dr. Douglas Houghton, the professor of
chemistry, being absent in the prosecution of the geological survey
of Michigan. Two years later he was elected professor of chemistry,
and took part in the establishment of the department of medicine,
which was organized in 1848. He secured at that time the promise of
a chemical laboratory in the medical department, but its fulfillment
was delayed until 1856, when he was given a separate building,
provided with tables for twenty-six students, at a time when few of
the older Colleges of this country, and not many universities in
Europe, were supplied with laboratories.
Dr. Douglas served
in charge of the chemical department of the University of Michigan
for thirty-three years, during which time his labors were directed
to the establishment of a laboratory of instruction, as the object
of his life, a purpose in which he was eminently successful. As a
result of his efforts the laboratory through successive enlargements
reached a capacity for 270 students in 1880.
He has been
connected with various scientific societies, both as active and
corresponding member. His publications include, " Tables for
Qualitative Chemical Analysis" (Ann Arbor, 1864); and, jointly with
Professor Albert B. Prescott, "Qualitative Chemical Analysis" (New
York, 1873; 3d ed., 1880).
Silas Hamilton Douglas married
on May 1st 1845, Helen Welles (died 1880), and had three daughters,
Kate, Marie, and Louise.
He died in Ann Arbor, Washtenaw
County, Michigan on August 26th, 1890, and was buried in Forest Hill
Cemetery, Ann Arbor.
Extended photo caption:
Civic leader Silas Douglass,
dean of the UM medical faculty and twice mayor of Ann Arbor, lived
in this home at 502 East Huron Street from 1848 until 1902. His
three daughters, Kate, Marie, and Louise, shown here around 1890,
enjoyed the luxuries of privileged America. Kate wrote in her
reminiscences, "Ann Arbor society was unusually good for a small
place. There were many tea parties where both gentlemen and ladies
were invited. They sat around little tables enjoying the good supper
and pleasant talk. They often had dances in private homes. There
were many tableaux too, which we had in our bay window." In
contrast, Harriet Noble recalled that when she arrived from New York
State in late 1824, "there were six or seven log huts occupied by as
many inmates as could crawl into them."
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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