The Biographical Dictionary of America/Appleton, John Howard

APPLETON, John Howard, educator, was born in Portland, Me., Feb. 3, 1844. He is a direct descendant of the Samuel Appleton, who emigrated from Suffolk, England, to Massachusetts in 1635, and who founded the prominent New England family of his name. He received his early training at the Providence, R. I., high school, and was graduated at Brown university in the scientific course with the degree of bachelor of philosophy in 1863. He became an instructor in chemistry at Brown in 1864, and professor of chemistry in 1868. He was for many years state sealer of weights and measures, chemist of the Rhode Island state board of agriculture, chemist for the Providence water works, and in 1891, by special designation of President Harrison, he became a member of the commission appointed to test the coinage of the United States mints. He was a member of several scientific associations and a contributor to various scientific periodicals. He published a series of text-books on chemistry: "Qualitative Analysis"; "Quantitative Analysis"; "The Young Chemist"; "The Beginner's Handbook of Chemistry" (1885); "Lessons in Chemical Philosophy," and "The Metals of the Chemist." These books became extensively used in educational institutions. He received the degree of D.S. from Brown University in 1900.