John Christopher Draper (March 31, 1835 – December 20, 1885) was an American

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe t ...

and surgeon. He was a son of multidisciplinary scientist John William Draper and a brother of astronomer

Henry Draper Henry Draper (March 7, 1837 – November 20, 1882) was an American doctor and amateur astronomer. He is best known today as a pioneer of astrophotography. Life and work Henry Draper's father, John William Draper, was an accomplished doctor, ch ...

Life and work

Draper was born at Christiansville (now

Chase City, Virginia Chase City is a town in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, United States. Chase City was incorporated in 1873 and named for Salmon P. Chase, United States Chief Justice and Lincoln's Secretary of the Treasury. The population was 2,351 at the 2010 cens ...

). His father, John William Draper, was an accomplished doctor, chemist, astronomer, botanist, and professor at

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, th ...

. Draper's mother, Antonia Coetana de Paiva Pereira Gardner, was a daughter of the personal physician to the John VI of Portugal and Charlotte of Spain. In 1850–52 Draper took the arts course, and in 1855–57 the medical course, in

, and then studied in Europe. He was professor of natural sciences (1858–60) and of analytical and practical chemistry (1858–71) in New York University, and in 1859 was one of the first instructors of chemistry at the Cooper Union. On May 31, 1862, he joined S Company,

12th New York Infantry Regiment The 12th New York Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service 3 Month Service of the 12th New York State Militia The 12th New York Volunteer Infantry is sometimes confused with the 12th New ...

as an assistant surgeon along with his brother Henry, who joined as a surgeon.Hughes, Stefan
''Catchers of the Light, Volume 1 - Catching Space''
ArtDeCiel Publishing, 2012, pages 546-546. They served until October 8, 1862. From 1863 to 1885 he was professor of physiology and natural history in the College of the City of New York; in 1865–85, professor of chemistry in the medical department of New York University. In 1873 he received the degree of Doctor of Laws from Trinity College. Draper died suddenly, of pneumonia which he caught during a cold winter. He was serving his duties just a few days before death.

Publications

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Draper, John Christopher 1835 births 1885 deaths American chemists People from Chase City, Virginia Cooper Union faculty New York University faculty Trinity Washington University alumni Deaths from pneumonia in New York City New York University Grossman School of Medicine alumni Scientists from Virginia Union Army surgeons