Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Henry Cadwalader CHAPMAN
Dr. Chapman, having inherited the temperament, tastes and abilities of his distinguished grandfather, adopted the same profession, in which he attained, like his famous progenitor, and exalted position as practitioner and instructor. Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1864 he took his degree of M. D. at the same institution in 1867, which degree also was conferred upon him by Jefferson Medical College in 1878. In the meantime, however, he had, in 1869, gone abroad, where he spent three years in the completion of his medical education. His European preceptors included Sir Richard Owen, in London; Alphonse Milne Edward, in Paris; Emile Du Bois Reymond in Berlin, and Joseph Hytrl, in Vienna.Previous to going abroad, indeed, immediately upon graduating in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, in 1867, he had been appointed resident physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital and this post he continued to fill until his departure for Europe, in 1869.
From 1877 to 1880 he served as demonstrator of physiology in association with Dr. James Aitken Meigs at Jefferson Medical College, lectured on experimental physiology in the summer course of 1878, and was curator of the museum in 1879-80.
In the spring of 1880, following the death of Professor Meigs, December 9, 1879, Doctor Chapman succeeded the latter in the chair of institutes of medicine and medical jurisprudence. This position he filled with distinction until, having resigned, his resignation was reluctantly accepted January 7, 1909, the same to take effect June 7, 1909, at the close of the second year.
About the same time he became identified with the faculty of Jefferson Medical College--in 1878 to be exact--he was elected to the professorship of physiology in the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, but gave up this post in 1885, that he might concentrate his energies at the larger institution.
Doctor Chapman's first published work was his "Evolution of Life" which came from the press, September 17, 1872; his next "History of the Discovery of the Circulation of the Blood," issued in 1884; then followed his "Treatise on Human Philosophy" the first edition of which was published in 1887, a second edition being issued in 1899, and finally in 1892 was printed his "Manual of Medical Jurisprudence and Toxicology" subsequent editions appearing in 1896 and 1903.
These were his larger and more ambitioius publications only. His writings otherwise were almost innumerable, including lectures, treatises, addresses, memoirs, etc., which appeared in the leading scientific journals of America.
He early became associated with the Academy of Natural Sciences--having been admitted to membership in 1868--and some of his best work, aside from his professional labors, lay in the direction of scientific investigation as a member of that learned body, and scores of his papers appeared in its "Proceedings." He was elected a curator August 8, 1876, but held the office less than two years. He became a member of the council in 1880, but resigned four months later. In 1891, however, he was again elected a curator, and he acted as chairman of the board until the close of 1904, when he declined a renomination.
He was also an active member of that allied organization, the Zoological Society of Philadelphia. He became prosector of the society in 1874; a director April 28, 1881; served as secretary in 1884, and as corresponding secretary from November 24, 1890, to November 10, 1904. His studies in comparative anatomy were thorough and profitable not only to himself, but to the world of science, the results of his researches being given publicity in society "Proceedings" and scientific periodicals.
He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society, April 16, 1875; became a fellow of the College of Physicians in 1880; was a member of the Franklin Institute and of the American Physiological Society; was elected to membership in the board of directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia April 3, 1902, and was identified otherwise with the leading organized movements for the advancement of science in his native city and the world at large.
From 1876 to 1881 he was coroner's physician for the city of Philadelphia.
In June 1908, the degree of doctor of science was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania.
Doctor Chapman, made numerous trips abroad aside from his initial one, in 1869; notably in 1872, 1882, 1887, 1899, 1903, 1905, and later. These were not idle sight-seeing tours; wherever he went he sought information and acquired knowledge with the instinct of the genuine scholar.
Doctor Chapman was essentially a student, and investigator of hidden truths, an expositor of profound principles, chiefly concerning the sources of things in their relation to human existence. Indeed, the human quality was the predominant one in his life. His love for his fellowman was very great. His chief ambition was that he might increase the sum of human happiness, and minimize the element of suffering in the world. Genial in his temperament, gentle in manner, he yet strove with the eagerness and poise(?) of the strong man in his labors for mankind.
On September 7, 1909, exactly eight months to the day from the acceptance of his resignation as a member of the faculty of Jefferson Medical College, exactly three months to the day from the termination of his professorship, his life closed, at Bar Harbor, Maine.
Doctor Chapman, married December 2, 1876, Hannah Naglee Megargee, daughter of Samuel Megargee, who survives, her residence being 2047 Walnut Street. As he had no children, the name, upon his decease, became extinct in Philadelphia. In Virginia, Maryland and elsewhere, however, live descendants of the founder of the family in America, who bear the honored name of CHAPMAN.
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