The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Drown, Thomas Messinger

DROWN, Thomas Messinger, American educator: b. Philadelphia, Pa., 19 March 1842; d. Bethlehem, Pa., 16 Nov. 1904. After graduating in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1862 he pursued the study of chemistry at Yale, Harvard and Heidelberg for seven years, from 1874-81, occupied the chair of analytical chemistry at Lafayette College, and for 10 years a similar chair at the Massachusetts Institute of Mining Engineers. He was one of the founders of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, and served with marked efficiency for 10 years as its first secretary and editor of its &lsquo;Transactions,&rsquo; being later elected to honorary membership and in 1897 to its presidency. Dr. Drown did very important original work in quantitative analysis both in metallurgy and in sanitary chemistry. In 1895 he was called to the presidency of Lehigh University, and by careful and intelligent guidance placed it in its present high position among American schools.