American Medical Biographies/Greene, William Houston
Greene, William Houston (1853–1918)
William Houston Greene, physician, chemist and educator, was born in Columbia, Pennsylvania, December 30, 1853, the son of Stephen Greene and Martha Mifflin. His parents moved to Philadelphia, where he received his education, and after completing the grammar school course entered the Boys' Central High School, from which he graduated in 1870. He matriculated in Jefferson Medical College and a decided scientific bent led him to specialize in chemistry. After receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1873 from Jefferson he became assistant to B. Howard Rand (q. v.), the professor of chemistry. Two years later he was advanced to the position of demonstrator. In 1877 he went to Paris where he engaged in research work under Adolph Wurtz. Returning to Philadelphia in 1879 he was appointed demonstrator in the University of Pennsylvania (1879–1880) and a year later was elected professor of chemistry in the Central High School. He resigned the chair in 1892 to associate himself with his father in the printing business. It was during the twelve years that he taught in the high school that Dr. Greene achieved his greatest successes as a chemist and educator, originating and developing methods of instruction which proved most successful especially as regards lecture demonstration and laboratory practice. His original researches include the "Syntheses of Organic Compounds by the aid of Metallic Chlorides," a "New Process for the Manufacture of Manganese on the Commercial Scale" (with Dr. William H. Wahl), and the extended investigation on "Lapachic Acid and Its Derivatives" (with Dr. Samuel C. Hooker). He prepared a large number of organic compounds now in the possession of Central High School. His literary productions include an excellent translation of Wurtz's "Elementary Lessons in Modern Chemistry," and his own text-book, "Lessons in Chemistry," both of which have passed through many editions, the more recent being edited by H. F. Keller. Dr. Greene was well known as a consulting chemist and his experience extended over a wide range of subjects in Medical and Industrial Chemistry.
He was a member of the American Philosophical Society; the American Association for the Advancement of Science; Société Chimique of Paris; Fellow of the Chemical Society of London. In recent years he played an active part in the musical and the art life of Philadelphia.
He was married twice, first at Paris, France, on May 28, 1881, to Sarah Menager, who died without leaving issue, and again at Philadelphia on April 7, 1902, to Sara Cavanaugh, and of this marriage one child, Stephen, was born. The widow and the son lived in Philadelphia. Dr. Greene died from heart disease at his summer home, Wenonah, New Jersey, August 8, 1918.
He made many notable bequests to scientific institutions and charities. A memorial tablet and his portrait have lately been presented to the Central High School.