The Biographical Dictionary of America/Babcock, James Francis

BABCOCK, James Francis, chemist, was born in Boston, Mass., Feb. 23, 1844; son of Archibald and Fanny F. (Richards) Babcock. He was graduated at the Boston high school and took a course at Lawrence scientific school, Harvard university. He opened a chemical laboratory in Boston in 1863 and was successful in acquiring distinction in his profession, being frequently called upon as an expert in patent litigation and in important state criminal cases. He was professor of medical chemistry in the Massachusetts college of pharmacy, 1869-'74, and held a similar chair in the Boston university, 1874-'80. He was state assayer of Massachusetts, 1875-'85. He investigated, gave expert testimony on, and wrote exhaustive reports relating to various food adulterations. He invented Babcock's chemical fire extinguisher, which was used in many large manufactories. He is the author of the article "Blood Stains" in Hamilton's "Legal Medicine." He died in Dorchester, Mass., July 20, 1897.