Lewis Henry Steiner
Encyclopedia
Lewis Henry Steiner was a United States
physician
and librarian
.
, Pennsylvania, where he received the degree of A.M. in 1849, and was graduated the same year at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania
. He began to practise in Frederick, but in 1852 moved to Baltimore, where for three years he was associated with John R. W. Dunbar in the conduct of the Baltimore Medical Institute, at the end of which time he returned to Frederick.
Soon after he began to practise his attention was especially directed to chemistry
and the allied sciences, and during his residence in Baltimore his time was largely occupied in teaching. He was professor of chemistry and natural history
in Columbian College, Washington, D.C.
, and also of chemistry and pharmacy
in the National Medical College
, Washington, in 1853; lecturer on chemistry and physics
in St. James College
, Maryland, in 1854; lecturer on applied chemistry in the Maryland Institute in 1855, and professor of chemistry in the Maryland College of Pharmacy in 1856. By 1855, he had given up the practice of medicine to devote his career to the natural sciences, botany and chemistry in particular.
During the Civil War
, he was actively employed as an inspector by the United States Sanitary Commission
, and for a period was in charge of its operations in the Army of the Potomac
as chief inspector. He published a brief history of the Commission in 1866.
He became president of the Frederick County School Board in 1865 where a major interest was in developing school facilities for African-American children. In 1871 he was elected by the Republicans
to the state senate for four years. He was re-elected for a like term in 1875, and again in 1879. From 1855 until 1858, he was a contributor to, and afterward assistant editor of, The American Medical Monthly.
In 1884 he was appointed librarian of the Enoch Pratt Free Library
, remaining there until his death. He was a Reformed Church elder.
, succeeded his father as librarian.
He published other translations from the German, with monographs, reports, lectures, and speeches.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
.
Biography
He was educated at Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
, Pennsylvania, where he received the degree of A.M. in 1849, and was graduated the same year at the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He began to practise in Frederick, but in 1852 moved to Baltimore, where for three years he was associated with John R. W. Dunbar in the conduct of the Baltimore Medical Institute, at the end of which time he returned to Frederick.
Soon after he began to practise his attention was especially directed to 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....
and the allied sciences, and during his residence in Baltimore his time was largely occupied in teaching. He was professor of chemistry and natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
in Columbian College, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and also of chemistry and 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...
in the National Medical College
George Washington University Medical School
The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences was established in 1824 due to the need for doctors in the District of Columbia but formally opened its doors a year later in 1825. It is the eleventh oldest medical school in the country and the first medical school...
, Washington, in 1853; lecturer on chemistry and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
in St. James College
St. James School, Maryland
Saint James School is an independent, secondary, boarding and day school. Founded in 1842 as the College of Saint James, The school is a coeducational college preparatory school.-Mission statement:...
, Maryland, in 1854; lecturer on applied chemistry in the Maryland Institute in 1855, and professor of chemistry in the Maryland College of Pharmacy in 1856. By 1855, he had given up the practice of medicine to devote his career to the natural sciences, botany and chemistry in particular.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he was actively employed as an inspector by the United States Sanitary Commission
United States Sanitary Commission
The United States Sanitary Commission was a private relief agency created by federal legislation on June 18, 1861, to support sick and wounded soldiers of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. It operated across the North, raised its own funds, and enlisted thousands of volunteers...
, and for a period was in charge of its operations in the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
as chief inspector. He published a brief history of the Commission in 1866.
He became president of the Frederick County School Board in 1865 where a major interest was in developing school facilities for African-American children. In 1871 he was elected by the Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the state senate for four years. He was re-elected for a like term in 1875, and again in 1879. From 1855 until 1858, he was a contributor to, and afterward assistant editor of, The American Medical Monthly.
In 1884 he was appointed librarian of the Enoch Pratt Free Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library
The Enoch Pratt Free Library, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is one of the oldest free public libraries in the United States. Established in 1882 after a grant from philanthropist Enoch Pratt, the library now includes twenty-two branches in Baltimore, plus the Central Library...
, remaining there until his death. He was a Reformed Church elder.
Family
In 1866, he married Sarah Spencer Smyth. They had six children, of which one, his son Bernard Christian SteinerBernard Christian Steiner
Bernard Christian Steiner was a United States educator, librarian and jurist.-Biography:...
, succeeded his father as librarian.
Works
- edition of Heinrich Will, Outlines of Chemical Analysis, translated from the 3rd German edition, with Daniel Brud (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1855)
- Cantate Domino: a Collection of Chants, Hymns, etc., for Church Service, with Henry Schwing (Boston, 1859)
- Report containing a Diary kept during the Rebel Occupation of Frederick, Md., etc. (New York, 1862)
He published other translations from the German, with monographs, reports, lectures, and speeches.