Scientist of universal attainments; born in North Hempstead, Long Island, on the 20th of August 1764. Studied medicine in Hempstead and graduated at the University of Edinburgh; on his return, studied law; in 1790 he was elected to the New York legislature, and in 1792 became professor of chemistry and natural philosophy at Columbia College, New York City. In 1794 he made a mineralogical survey of the state of New York, and in 1797 was one of the founders of the Medical Repository, which he edited for sixteen years. In 1798, in the face of strong opposition, he advocated granting to Robert R. Livingston and Robert Fulton exclusive steam-navigation rights, and was one of the party making the first trip in the Clermont in 1807. In 1801 he retired from his college professorship, and from December 1, 1801, until November 22, 1804, served as a Democrat in Congress. Thereafter he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the United States Senate, and held that place until March 3, 1809. From 1820 to 1826 he was professor of botany and materia medica in the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons; became connected with various learned societies, corresponded with Joseph Priestley, and for his researches on fishes won the approbation of Cuvier. He made numerous contributions to scientific periodicals, including The London Philosophical Magazine; The New York Medical Repository; and The American Mineralogical Journal. He died in New York City on the 7th of September 1831.
