224
VI RC. I XI A lUOGRAPIiY
lish settlers. His early education was re-
ceived in the private schools of his native
place, and he entered the University of Vir-
ginia in 1855, and graduated with the de-
gree of Master of Arts in 1858. At the out-
break of the civil war he enlisted, and rose
to be a captain of artillery. He was a bril-
liant scholar, and at the close of the war
turned his attention to journalism. He
founded the "Richmond State," which, dur-
ii:g his time, was the leading evening Demo-
cratic paper of that city, exercising a potent
influence in the politics of the state. He had
the faculty of binding to him a host of
friends who admired his brilliant conversa-
tion, his ready wit and his thorough schol-
arship. He represented the city of Rich-
mond in the legislature, and was regarded,
at the time of his death, as one of the fore-
liiost men of the state. Among those who
were intimately associated with him in jour-
nalism were the late Richard F. Beirne, and
\\ . \V. Archer, Esq. His wife was the
daughter of Rev. J. Churchill Gibson, many-
years a power in the Episcopal church in
\ irginia.
Draper, Henry, was born at liampden- Sidney, Prince Edward county, Virginia, March 7. 1837, son of Dr. John William Drajier. Two years after the birth of Henry his father took the chair of chemistry in New York University. He first went through the primary school connected with the university, from which he passed into the preparatory school. At the age of fifteen ho entered the collegiate department, where he was distinguished for excellent scholar- ship. P.y the advice of his father he entered the medical dejjartment which his father was prominent in establishing, and passed all his
examinations satisfactorily, but not being of
the age necessary for graduation, his diploma
was withheld, and with his brother he stud-
ied and recreated in Europe for one year,
and upon his return took his medical degree
in 1858. While in Europe he received an
appointment ujion the medical staff of Belle-
vue Hospital, which he held for sixteen
months, but then decided to abandon prac-
tice and give himself to teaching. He was
elected professor of natural science in the
undergraduate department in the New York
University in i860, and in 1866 became pro-
fessor of physiology in the medical depart-
ment, and dean of the faculty. He resigned
in , 1S73 and taught advanced analytical
chemistry in the academical department.
Upon the death of his father in 1882, he was
appointed to succeed as professor of chemis-
try, but previous to the opening of the last
f;ill term of 1882 he severed his connection
with the institution. He was taught to love
science, and was early put upon the line of
original investigation in which he acquired
his celebrity. He inherited not only his
fnther's genius, but his spirit and problems
of research. The elder Draper was one of
the founders of the recent science of photo-
chemistry, and by his extensive contribu-
tions to this subject, he prepared the way for
those who entered to reap the fruits of his
hil)nrs in the splendid field of spectrum
analysis. Henry pursued the same line of
research and by his extension of it will have
a permanent place among the discoverers of
the period. His first important scientific in-
vestigation was made at the age of twenty,
and was embodied in his graduating thesis
at the medical college, on the functions of
the spleen, illustrated by microscopic photo-
graphy — an art then in its infancy. While
