This page was last updated on 30 September 2021

Click here to 
Print this page

Biography finder

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

 

 

Index of first names

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

 

 




Errors and Omissions

The Forum

What's new?

We are looking for your help to improve the accuracy of The Douglas Archives.

If you spot errors, or omissions, then please do let us know


Contributions

Many articles are stubs which would benefit from re-writing. Can you help?


Copyright

You are not authorized to add this page or any images from this page to Ancestry.com (or its subsidiaries) or other fee-paying sites without our express permission and then, if given, only by including our copyright and a URL link to the web site.

 

If you have met a brick wall with your research, then posting a notice in the Douglas Archives Forum may be the answer. Or, it may help you find the answer!

You may also be able to help others answer their queries.

Visit the Douglas Archives Forum.

 

2 Minute Survey

To provide feedback on the website, please take a couple of minutes to complete our survey.

 

We try to keep everyone up to date with new entries, via our What's New section on the home page.

We also use the Community Network to keep researchers abreast of developments in the Douglas Archives.


Help with costs

Maintaining the three sections of the site has its costs.  Any contribution the defray them is very welcome
Donate

 

Newsletter

If you would like to receive a very occasional newsletter - Sign up!

 
 
 

 

Back to top

 



The content of this website is a collection of materials gathered from a variety of sources, some of it unedited.

The webmaster does not intend to claim authorship, but gives credit to the originators for their work.

As work progresses, some of the content may be re-written and presented in a unique format, to which we would then be able to claim ownership.

Discussion and contributions from those more knowledgeable is welcome.

Contact Us

Last modified: Thursday, 22 February 2024