Historical records matching William McMurtrie, PhD
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About William McMurtrie, PhD
William McMurtrie
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_McMurtrie
- https://www.acs.org/about/president/acspresidents/william-mcmurtrie...
- https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47802647/william-mcmurtrie
McMurtrie was an American chemist.
Born on a farm near Belvidere, New Jersey, the son of Abram McMurtrie and Almira Smith, William matriculated to Lafayette College where he graduated with a mining engineer degree in 1871—the school did not then offer a degree program in chemistry, his primary interest. He undertook graduate studies at the College during 1871–1872 and was appointed as an assistant chemist with the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1873, he was named Chief Chemist for the department; a post he would hold until 1878. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Lafayette in 1875—the first doctorate in chemistry awarded at the school. On April 5, 1876 he was married to Helen Douglass and the couple would have two children.
Dr. McMurtrie traveled to the Paris Exposition in 1878 as representative of the Department of Agriculture. He became a special agent of the Department in 1879, collecting information regarding agricultural technology. The following year, he served as a representative for the commissioner of agriculture at an international exhibit in Philadelphia for sheep, wool, and wool products. Published in 1880, his Report on the culture of the sugar beet and the manufacture of sugar therefrom in France and the United States helped to launch the sugar beet industry in the United States.
From 1882 until 1888, Dr. McMurtrie was professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois. In 1884, he was named chemist for the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, then become chemist for the Illinois Agricultural Station in 1886. He entered the commercial sphere in 1888 when he moved to New York to work as chemist for the New York Tartar Company. In 1896, Dr. McMurtrie was chosen vice president of the chemistry section for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was selected president of the American Chemical Society in 1900. He served as a trustee for Lafayette College from 1906 until 1912. During his career he was the author of numerous reports prepared for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Awards and Honors
Chevalier de Merite Agricole, 1883
The Washington Post, Monday, May 26, 1913
Death of Dr. McMurtrie
Funeral of Pure Food Expert at Oak Hill Cemetery Tomorrow
William McMurtrie, E.M., PhD, Chief Chemist of the Department of Agriculture from 1872 to 1879 and its special agent in agricultural technology from that date until 1882 died in New York Saturday last after a prolonged illness.
His services to science were held in such esteem that he was created Chevalier du Merite Agricole by the French government in 1883 and elected to preside over the chemical section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the New York section of the American Chemical Society and President of the American Chemical Society which is the largest organization of its kind in the world. He was for four years chemist to the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, for two years chemist of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station and for six years, Professor of Chemistry in the University of Illinois. From 1888 to his death he was engaged in commercial employment.
He combined to a rare degree a regard for pure science and a capacity for applying its methods and results to the benefit of mankind. He devised methods for the manufacture on a large scale of chemical food products of a degree of purity never before realized. Those who had the pleasure of his personal acquaintance bear witness to his charm of manner and to his sterling qualities as a chemist and a man.
While in Washington, he married Helen M. Douglass, daughter of the Commissioner of the District, who with one son survives him. The burial services will be held in the chapel at Oak Hill Cemetery tomorrow afternoon at 5 o'clock.
The Washington Post, Sunday, May 25, 1913
McMurtrie. On Saturday, May 24, 1913 at his residence in New York City, William, beloved husband of Helen Douglass McMurtrie.
Funeral service at Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel, Tuesday, May 27 at 5PM.
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William McMurtrie, PhD's Timeline
| 1851 |
March 11, 1851
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Belvidere, Warren County, New Jersey, United States
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| 1913 |
May 24, 1913
Age 62
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New York, New York County, New York, United States
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May 26, 1913
Age 62
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Oak Hill Cemetery, 3001 R Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia, DC, 20007, United States
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