Rash's Surname Index
Notes for John HARRISON
John Harrison was a chemist who studied under Joseph Priestley, the discoverer of oxygen, and for a time was in partnership with Samuel Betton. In the yellow fever epidemic of 1794 he was an Inspector of Health with Stephen Girard, a friend. In 1794/95 he decided to attempt the production of sulfuric, nitric and muriatic acids on a commercial scale, and was the first manufacturing chemist in the United States. He was the first person in this country to concentrate sulfuric acid in platinum. He later added white lead to production. (The foundation of Harrison Brothers & Company, Paint Manufacturers; purchased in 1906 by E I duPont de Nemours). John was captain of the 6th Coy, 3d Bn, Philadelphia Militia; a member of the Schuylkill Fishing Company of the State in Schuylkill; He was on the first Board of Managers of the Franklin Institute (his descendants for four generation succeeded him on the Board, and for five generations enjoyed free passes to the planetarium and the museum). He was in frequent correspondence with Thomas Jefferson concerning his activities.
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