Edward Renouf (September 4, 1846 – November 1, 1934) was an American chemist and chemistry professor, known for having helped found the chemistry department and research laboratory at
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...
, and for his authorship of chemistry textbooks.
Life and career
Edward Renouf was born at
Lowville, New York
Lowville is a town in Lewis County, New York, United States. The population was 4,888 at the 2020 census,Boston, Massachusetts in 1818, attended the Boston Grammar School, the
Boston Latin School
The Boston Latin School is a public exam school in Boston, Massachusetts. It was established on April 23, 1635, making it both the oldest public school in the British America and the oldest existing school in the United States. Its curriculum f ...
(enrolled 1829), and
Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
(A.B. 1838, M.A. 1841). He was ordained a priest in the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1842, and according to one obituary, Rev. Renouf enjoyed traveling, "…had visited almost all the countries in the world, and had become familiar with their languages and the habits of their peoples." He seemingly bequeathed these peripatetic habits to his son, who lived in Europe much of his adult life; and to his grandson Vincent Adams Renouf (1876–1910) who was born in Germany, grew up there, and for several years taught history at a Chinese university.
In 1857, the younger Edward Renouf enrolled in the Boston Latin School. In 1863, he went abroad to study at Heidelberg, Jena and Munich, and in 1880, received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the
University of Freiberg
The Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (abbreviation: TU Bergakademie Freiberg, TUBAF) is a public university of technology with currently 3655 students in the city of Freiberg, Saxony, Germany. Its focus is on exploration, mining & e ...
. He began his career as an assistant professor, teaching chemistry at the University of Munich, where he remained until 1885, when he returned to the United States to join the faculty of
Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...
. In 1886, he became an associate professor, and in 1892 full professor. In 1887, Renouf translated Jacob Volhard's ''Experiments in General Chemistry''. In 1894, he wrote ''Inorganic Preparations'', both of which were used as textbooks by the chemistry department at
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins (May 19, 1795 – December 24, 1873) was an American merchant, investor, and philanthropist. Born on a plantation, he left his home to start a career at the age of 17, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland where he remained for most ...
. He taught there until he retired in 1911.
Personal life
Edward Renouf married at Boston on February 8, 1871 Annie Vincent Whelpley (1849–1930), the daughter of physician and author
James Davenport Whelpley
James Davenport Whelpley (1817–1872) was an American physician, author, editor, inventor, and metallurgist.
Early life and education
James Whelpley was born in New York City on January 23, 1817, the son of Rev. Philip Melanchthon Whelpley (De ...
(1817–1872) and his wife, Anna Marie Wells (1828–1860). Annie Whelpley was born in New York City, but had Boston roots: The poets Thomas Wells (1790–1861) and Anna Maria (Foster) Wells (1795–1868) were her grandparents, and Gov. Samuel Adams (1722–1803) was her great-great grandfather. According to one writer, she was "an accomplished singer and artist." Among the oil paintings exhibited in Chicago at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 was No. 1098, ''Portrait of Mlle. Hausen'', by A. Renouf-Whelpley (Nos. 1099–1104 were works of Whistler’s).
The couple had two children: Edward Davenport Renouf (1872–1954), born in Boston, and Vincent Adams Renouf (1876–1910), born in Düsseldorf.
When Edward Renouf returned to the United States in 1885 to teach at Johns Hopkins, he and Annie Renouf effectively separated. In her passport application in 1915, she submitted an affidavit explaining her protracted stay abroad: "...I ceased to reside in the United States about 1881...I have since resided temporarily at Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland...I arrived at
where I am now temporarily residing in December 1915; I came to Europe to engage in my work as a painter and composer and am now obliged to remain here on account of my health....I maintain the following ties of family in the United States: husband, professor Edward Renouf, Monkton, Maryland and brother: James Davenport Whelpley, c/o Century Magazine, New York...my husband owns real estate and I receive $1,500 annually from him."
Annie Renouf died at Florence, Italy on May 4, 1930, and was buried in the
Cimitero degli Allori
The Cimitero Evangelico agli Allori ("The Evangelical Cemetery at Laurels") is located in Florence, Italy, between 'Due Strade' and Galluzzo.
History
The small cemetery was opened in 1877 when the non-Catholic communities of Florence could no long ...
.
In June, 1933, when arriving at New York from Bermuda, Edward Renouf gave his address as "The Old Mill House," Brewster, New York. He died on November 1, 1934, and his remains were interred at St. Mary the Virgin Church Cemetery, in Warwick Parish, Bermuda.
Written works
Books and articles authored or translated by Edward Renouf include:
* Edward Renouf (author, PhD thesis, University of Freiburg), ''Ueber das dimethyl-hydrazin'' (Munich: R. Oldenbourg, 1881).
*
Jacob Volhard
Jacob Volhard (4 June 1834 – 14 January 1910) was the German chemist who discovered, together with his student Hugo Erdmann, the Volhard–Erdmann cyclization reaction. He was also responsible for the improvement of the Hell–Volhard–Zel ...
(author), Clemens Zimmermann (author), Edward Renouf (translator), ''Experiments in General Chemistry and Introduction to Chemical Analysis'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Publication Agency, 1887).
*
Jacob Volhard
Jacob Volhard (4 June 1834 – 14 January 1910) was the German chemist who discovered, together with his student Hugo Erdmann, the Volhard–Erdmann cyclization reaction. He was also responsible for the improvement of the Hell–Volhard–Zel ...
(author), Clemens Zimmermann (author), Edward Renouf (translator), ''Experiments in General Chemistry and Introduction to Chemical Analysis'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Publication Agency, 1889), an abbreviated edition.
* Edward Renouf, ''Inorganic Preparations'' (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1894).
* Edward Renouf, "The Use of Acetylene,” in ''Popular Science Monthly'', Vol. 55, July 1899, pp. 335–347.
* Edward Renouf, "Some Phases of the Earth's Development in the Light of Recent Chemical Research,” in ''Popular Science Monthly'', July 1900, p. 295. Phases of the Earth's Development, by Edward Renouf, Professor of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University. '
James Davenport Whelpley
James Davenport Whelpley (1817–1872) was an American physician, author, editor, inventor, and metallurgist.
Early life and education
James Whelpley was born in New York City on January 23, 1817, the son of Rev. Philip Melanchthon Whelpley (De ...
, physician and author; Edward Renouf’s father-in-law.
*
Mary Taylor Brush
Mary Taylor Brush (January 11, 1866 – July 29, 1949) was an American aviator, artist, plane designer, and camouflage pioneer.
Personal life
Mary Taylor Whelpley was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 11, 1866, to Mary Louise (''née'' B ...
, artist and aviator; Edward Renouf's sister-in-law.
* Edward Renouf, artist; Edward Renouf’s grandson.
*
Edda Renouf
Edda Renouf (born 1943) is an American painter and printmaker. Renouf creates minimalist abstract paintings and drawings developed from her close attention to subtle properties of materials, such as the woven threads in linen canvas and the flax ...
