Biography

"His education was acquired at the Friends' academy in Philadelphia, and later he was given charge of the Friends' monthly-meeting school, in Philadelphia, with which he continued for thirteen years. In 1806 he removed to New York, where he was actively engaged in teaching for 25 years. He was one of the first to teach chemistry, and gave public lectures on this subject to his classes early in 1806. When the medical department of Queen's (now Rutgers) college was established in 1812, he was appointed to the chair of chemistry and natural history, which he held until 1828. His colleague, Dr. John W. Francis, said of him that 'for thirty years Dr. Griscom was the acknowledged head of all teachers of chemistry among us' in New York." See full entry in Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, Volume 3, on page 2. Mentioned in 18240103BJS_WHS and 18250314BJS_WHS.