The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bache, Franklin

BACHE, Franklin, physician, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 25, 1792; son of Benjamin Franklin and Margaret H. (Markoe) Bache, grandson of Richard and Sarah (Franklin) Bache, and great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1810, taking his M. D. degree in 1814. In 1824 he was appointed practising physician at the Walnut street prison, and two years later accepted the chair of chemistry at the Franklin institute, holding the former position until 1886, and the latter until 1832. From 1829 to 1839 he was physician to the Eastern penitentiary in Philadelphia. Dr. Bache was elected a member of the Philadelphia medical society in 1852, of the American philosophical society in 1819, and its president from 1853 to 1855, and was a fellow of the college of physicians and surgeons, U. S. A., 1814-'16. In 1841 he was made professor of chemistry at Jefferson college, continuing in this position during the rest of his life. His "Pharmacopoeia," arranged in conjunction with Dr. George Bacon Wood, developed, in 1833, into "The Dispensatory of the United States of America." which reached its sixteenth edition in 1890. He was one of the editors of the North American Medical and Surgical Journal from 1823 to 1832, and was the author of "A Supplement to Henry's Chemistry" (1823); "Letters on Separate Confinement of Prisoners" (1829-'30); "Introductory Lectures on Chemistry" (1841-’52); and a "System of Chemistry for the Use of Medical Students." He died in Philadelphia, Pa., March 19, 1864.