Abram Litton (May 20, 1814 – September 22, 1901) was an Irish-American chemist and educator. He was

Washington University in St. Louis Washington University in St. Louis (WashU or WUSTL) is a private research university with its main campus in St. Louis County, and Clayton, Missouri. Founded in 1853, the university is named after George Washington. Washington University is r ...

's first professor of

chemistry Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...

, who served as the acting

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

during 1869–1870.

Biography

Abram Litton was born in Dublin on May 20, 1814. His family emigrated from Ireland to Nashville, Tennessee when he was three years old. He graduated from the

University of Nashville University of Nashville was a private university in Nashville, Tennessee. It was established in 1806 as Cumberland College. It existed as a distinct entity until 1909; operating at various times a medical school, a four-year military college, a ...

at age 17. In 1839, he moved to Europe to study chemistry. Three years later, he returned to the United States to accept the Professorship of Chemistry at

. In 1843, he became professor of chemistry in the

St. Louis Medical College Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) is the medical school of Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1891, the School of Medicine has 1,260 students, 604 of which are pursuing a medical degree with o ...

. He held that position for fifty years, and died in St. Louis on September 22, 1901.

References

External links

Washington University in St. Louis
1814 births 1901 deaths 19th-century American chemists Burials at Bellefontaine Cemetery Chancellors of Washington University in St. Louis Irish emigrants to the United States University of Nashville alumni Washington University in St. Louis faculty Washington University School of Medicine faculty American people of Irish descent {{US-academic-administrator-1810s-stub