Transcript Document

Joseph Priestley
His Life and Times
by
Howard M. Peters
&
Sally B. Peters
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
Division of the History of Chemistry
Philadelphia Annual Meeting
August 25, 2004
Priestley’s Life and
Accomplishments
PART 1
Period 1: 1733 – 1776
 Early marriage to Mary Wilkinson
Period 2: 1776 – 1793
 The good and bad years
Period 3: 1793 – 1804
 Exile in America
Genealogy Studies
PART 2
 SAR History and Records
 DAR History and Records
 Peters family connection
Fictional Accounts From
Nicholas Paul’s Journal
PART 3
 1796 – Paul family / Newberry
family / Arner family connections
 1799 – Paul family moves to
Northumberland County, first
contact with Priestley
 1800 – 1804: Paul and Priestley
connections
Priestley
LIFE, FAMILY, and RELIGION
Priestley: Scientific
Contributions
DISCOVERY OF 8 GASES
 Oxygen
 Nitrogen
 Carbon Dioxide
 Carbon Monoxide
 Sulfur Dioxide
 Nitrous Oxide
 Nitric Oxide
 Hydrogen Chloride
Priestley: Additional
Scientific Contributions



Discovered the interconnection
between photosynthesis and
respiration
Discovered carbonated water
Discovered that India rubber
removed graphite pencil marks the first rubber eraser
Priestley
HIS POLITICS (1776 – 1793)
Priestley
THE FAMILY IN EXILE
ESCAPE TO AMERICA
(1793 – 1804)
Priestley’s US Landmark
Priestley’s GB Landmark
Priestley House (U.S.)
Priestley House (Landmark)
Priestley’s Lab (GB Landmark)
Nicholas Paul

Searching for the Ancestors and
Descendants of Nicholas Paul
(1748-1820) and Barbara Vass
(1757-1823), Northampton County
and Northumberland County, PA
James Newbury

Searching for the Ancestors and
Descendants of James Newbury
(1750-1830) and Sarah Guest
(1764-1850), Northumberland
County, PA
Nicholas Paul SAR Genealogy
Peters SAR Genealogy
Available During Presentation
Pennsylvania
Centre County
Blanchard
Elmer and Marie Peters
Elmer Peters
1875 – 1922
Emma Scantlin Peters
1879 – 1930
Edward and Ellen Scantlin
George and Emeline Miller
John Bitner
1802 – 1861
Susan Orner Bitner
1801 – 1880
John and Elizabeth Orner
John Orner
Elizabeth Orner
Pennsylvania
Northumberland
Riverview Cemetery
Nicholas and Barbara Paul
Nicholas and Barbara Paul
Nicholas Paul
Barbara Paul
Joseph Priestley
Part 3: Fictional
Accounts From Nicholas
Paul’s Journal
1796
 Jacob Arner finally got deed from
Penn family
 Problem: 21 year old son John
interested in 17 year old Elizabeth
Paul
Nicholas Paul’s Journal
July 30th, 1799
 Summer move to Northumberland
County
 Warned James Newberry about Priestley
and his inflammatory speech
 Paul’s first meeting with Priestley
April 5th, 1800
 Priestley seeking chickens, eggs and
firewood
Nicholas Paul’s Journal
July 18th, 1801
 Priestley goes to Philadelphia ill.
Was he poisoned?
October 13th, 1802
 Priestley weak
December 1st, 1803
 Priestley bedridden
Nicholas Paul’s Journal
February 6th, 1804
 Word from village that Priestley
had died
February 9th, 1804
 Bitter cold day, funeral attendance
low
Acknowledgements







Sons of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution
Chemical Heritage Foundation
Andrea Bashore: President, Priestley
House Museum
Northumberland County Historical
Society
Justin Kirk Houser: Centre County, PA
Genealogist
Daeron Katz: Silent Planet Productions,
Graphics