Daniel B. Smith
Encyclopedia
Daniel B. Smith was an educator
and pharmacist
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
Smith was educated
at Burlington Friends
School under John Griscom, where he acquired an interest in scientific
studies.
On graduating, he apprenticed
to John Biddle in the apothecary
business,
and on completion he was admitted to partnership
. In 1819 he opened a drug store
in
downtown Philadelphia, and in 1828 he entered into partnership with William Hodgson, renaming the
firm "Smith & Hodgson", and continued to be active in business until a few years before his death.
At the age of 28, he was one of the founders of the Apprentices' Library of
Philadelphia.
Smith was a prominent member of a group of pharmacists that in 1821 established the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (now
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
) the first college of pharmacy in the country, was
elected vice-president in 1828, and from 1829 to 1854 served as president.
In 1824, Smith married Esther Morton, daughter of John Morton, a prominent Philadelphia merchant
and banker, and his second wife, Mary Robinson of Newport, RI. They had sons John and Benjamin,
and one daughter, Mary.
Smith was chairman of the committee that in 1826 published the first issue of the "American Journal of Pharmacy."
He was acclaimed for his wide knowledge of the natural science
s and liberal arts
,
and in 1834 became Professor
of Moral Philosophy
, English Literature, and Chemistry in
Haverford School (now Haverford College
), and served as Superintendent
(Principal) from 1843-1846. With his
background in moral teaching he was prominent in starting the House of Refuge for
Juvenile Delinquents
in 1828. He was an important organizer of the
American Pharmaceutical Association in 1852, and convened its first meeting in Philadelphia.
Smith was an original member of the Franklin Institute
, and also of the
Pennsylvania Historical Society
from its organization in 1825, and was its first
corresponding secretary. Throughout his life he was active in the Society of Friends
(Quakers) and served a term as clerk (convenor) of the
Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting
. He was also a member of the American Philosophical Society
and of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia
.
He was an original incorporator
of the "Old Philadelphia Saving Fund".
He published "The Principles
of Chemistry
" (Philadelphia, 1837,1842). Daniel Smith's
son Benjamin R. Smith married Esther Fisher Wharton, the sister of Joseph Wharton
. The
American Pharmacists Association
continues a yearly award in the name of Daniel B. Smith
for excellence in the practice of Pharmacy
.
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
and pharmacist
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
Smith was educated
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at Burlington Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
School under John Griscom, where he acquired an interest in scientific
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
studies.
On graduating, he apprenticed
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
to John Biddle in the apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
business,
and on completion he was admitted to partnership
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
. In 1819 he opened a drug store
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
in
downtown Philadelphia, and in 1828 he entered into partnership with William Hodgson, renaming the
firm "Smith & Hodgson", and continued to be active in business until a few years before his death.
At the age of 28, he was one of the founders of the Apprentices' Library of
Philadelphia.
Smith was a prominent member of a group of pharmacists that in 1821 established the
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy (now
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
University of the Sciences , officially known as University of the Sciences in Philadelphia , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in pharmacy and a variety of other health-related disciplines.-History:The history of the University of the Sciences...
) the first college of pharmacy in the country, was
elected vice-president in 1828, and from 1829 to 1854 served as president.
In 1824, Smith married Esther Morton, daughter of John Morton, a prominent Philadelphia merchant
and banker, and his second wife, Mary Robinson of Newport, RI. They had sons John and Benjamin,
and one daughter, Mary.
He was acclaimed for his wide knowledge of the natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
s and liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
,
and in 1834 became Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Moral Philosophy
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
, English Literature, and Chemistry in
Haverford School (now Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
), and served as Superintendent
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
(Principal) from 1843-1846. With his
background in moral teaching he was prominent in starting the House of Refuge for
Juvenile Delinquents
Juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is participation in illegal behavior by minors who fall under a statutory age limit. Most legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles, such as juvenile detention centers. There are a multitude of different theories on the causes of crime, most if not...
in 1828. He was an important organizer of the
American Pharmaceutical Association in 1852, and convened its first meeting in Philadelphia.
Smith was an original member of the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
, and also of the
Pennsylvania Historical Society
Historical society
A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...
from its organization in 1825, and was its first
corresponding secretary. Throughout his life he was active in the Society of Friends
(Quakers) and served a term as clerk (convenor) of the
Philadelphia Quarterly Meeting
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends, or simply Philadelphia Yearly Meeting or PYM, is the central organizing body for Quaker meetings in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, area....
. He was also a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
and of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
.
He was an original incorporator
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
of the "Old Philadelphia Saving Fund".
He published "The Principles
Principles
Principles may refer to:*Value *Principles and parameters*Principles...
of Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
" (Philadelphia, 1837,1842). Daniel Smith's
son Benjamin R. Smith married Esther Fisher Wharton, the sister of Joseph Wharton
Joseph Wharton
Joseph Wharton was a prominent Philadelphia merchant, industrialist and philanthropist, who was involved in mining, manufacturing and education...
. The
American Pharmacists Association
American Pharmacists Association
The American Pharmacists Association , founded in 1852, is the first-established professional society of pharmacists within the United States....
continues a yearly award in the name of Daniel B. Smith
for excellence in the practice of Pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
.