Helen Abbott Michael
Encyclopedia
Helen Cecilia De Silver Abbott Michael, M.D.
(December 23, 1857 – November 29, 1904) was an American
scientist who was among the first to "in a systematic way study the relation of chemical composition to species of plants and to plant growth." Michael theorized that the chemical composition of plants over the course of their development provided an illustration for the theory of evolution. She also was a student of Harvard organic chemist Arthur Michael
(known for the Michael reaction
), who she subsequently married.
's Treatise on Physiological Optics. After an incident in which some children ingested poisonous roots, she developed and pursued an interest in the chemical properties of plants
, and their origin, aided by self-study, travel, and family connections. This interest led her to work at the chemistry laboratory of Professor Henry Trimble of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and later with Professor Arthur Michael of Tufts University
, who she married in 1888. She and Michael then moved to the Isle of Wight
for several years, doing chemical research in a self-equipped laboratory. On their return to the United States, Helen Abbott Michael began studying medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine
in 1900, earning an M.D. degree in 1903. She established a hospital for the poor, but then died the following year from influenza
, contracted from one of her patients. She was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery
in Philadelphia (section W-111).
Michael predicted in a lecture on "Plant Analysis as an Applied Science" that chemists of the future would be able to produce, through synthetic means, the proteins, sugars, and starches needed in the human diet. She also held that during a plant's development, changes in its chemical composition provided an illustration of the theory of evolution
.
In 1886, she reviewed the first U.S. exhibition of Impressionism under the pseudonym "Helen Sabbrin." http://books.google.com/books?id=EWHdRBuIQDcC&lpg=PA96
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
(December 23, 1857 – November 29, 1904) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
scientist who was among the first to "in a systematic way study the relation of chemical composition to species of plants and to plant growth." Michael theorized that the chemical composition of plants over the course of their development provided an illustration for the theory of evolution. She also was a student of Harvard organic chemist Arthur Michael
Arthur Michael
Arthur Michael was an American organic chemist who is best known for the Michael reaction.- Life :Arthur Michael was born into a wealthy family in Buffalo, New York in 1853, the son of John and Clara Michael, well-off real-estate investor...
(known for the Michael reaction
Michael reaction
The Michael reaction or Michael addition is the nucleophilic addition of a carbanion or another nucleophile to an alpha, beta unsaturated carbonyl compound. It belongs to the larger class of conjugate additions. This is one of the most useful methods for the mild formation of C-C bonds...
), who she subsequently married.
Life and work
Helen Cecilia De Silver Abbott was born in Philadelphia in 1857 to James Abbott and Caroline Montelius. Helen originally focused on being a pianist, but in 1881 she turned to science after purchasing a copy of HelmholtzHermann von Helmholtz
Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz was a German physician and physicist who made significant contributions to several widely varied areas of modern science...
's Treatise on Physiological Optics. After an incident in which some children ingested poisonous roots, she developed and pursued an interest in the chemical properties of plants
Phytochemistry
Phytochemistry is in the strict sense of the word the study of phytochemicals. These are chemicals derived from plants. In a narrower sense the terms are often used to describe the large number of secondary metabolic compounds found in plants. Many of these are known to provide protection against...
, and their origin, aided by self-study, travel, and family connections. This interest led her to work at the chemistry laboratory of Professor Henry Trimble of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and later with Professor Arthur Michael of Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, who she married in 1888. She and Michael then moved to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
for several years, doing chemical research in a self-equipped laboratory. On their return to the United States, Helen Abbott Michael began studying medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine
Tufts University School of Medicine
The Tufts University School of Medicine is one of the eight schools that constitute Tufts University. Located on the university's health sciences campus in the Chinatown district of Boston, Massachusetts, the medical school has clinical affiliations with thousands of doctors and researchers in the...
in 1900, earning an M.D. degree in 1903. She established a hospital for the poor, but then died the following year from influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
, contracted from one of her patients. She was buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery
Laurel Hill Cemetery
Laurel Hill Cemetery, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the second major garden or rural cemetery in the United States. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998, one of only a few cemeteries to receive the distinction....
in Philadelphia (section W-111).
Michael predicted in a lecture on "Plant Analysis as an Applied Science" that chemists of the future would be able to produce, through synthetic means, the proteins, sugars, and starches needed in the human diet. She also held that during a plant's development, changes in its chemical composition provided an illustration of the theory of evolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
.
Selected writings
- Contains reprints of many of Helen Abbott Michael's papers, along with an extensive biographical sketchIn 1886, she reviewed the first U.S. exhibition of Impressionism under the pseudonym "Helen Sabbrin." http://books.google.com/books?id=EWHdRBuIQDcC&lpg=PA96
Activities and honors
- American Philosophical Society
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- Franklin Institute of Philadelphia
- Deutsche Chemische Gesellschaft (Berlin)