Rogers, James B., 1803-1852

Dates

• Existence: 1802 February 11 - 1852 June 15

Biography

James Blythe Rogers (1802 - 1852) was an American physician, chemist, and educator. The eldest brother of William Barton Rogers, founder of MIT, James Blythe is known for his time practicing medicine, his work in the field of applied chemistry, as well as his many professorships held at various universities.

Rogers would be educated at the College of William and Mary, where his father, Patrick Kerr Rogers, was positioned as professor of natural history and chemistry [1]. Afterward, in 1822, he achieved his MD from the University of Maryland and started to practice medicine in Pennsylvania [2]. In 1830, Rogers would marry Rachel Smith of Baltimore, eventually sharing a son, William Barton Roger II, born in December 1833 [2].

By 1827, Rogers would cease his duties as an active physician, and began to hold many professorships throughout the remainder of his career. Primarily teaching chemistry, he would maintain positions at Washington Medical College (Baltimore), University of Cincinnati, Medical Institute of Philadelphia, Franklin Institute, and the University of Pennsylvania [2]. Rogers would also become the superintendent of a chemical manufacturer in Baltimore, in addition to assisting his brother, Henry Darwin Rogers, in his geological survey work for the state of Pennsylvania [3]. Much of Rogers' analyses on chemistry were published in conjunction with his brothers -- William, Henry, and Robert -- including co-authored surveys, forensic chemistry investigations, and scientific textbooks [3].

James Blythe Rogers died in Philadelphia on June 15th, 1852. His position, then as professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania, was filled by his youngest brother, Robert Empie Rogers [2]



1. “William Barton Rogers” Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Vol. 18 (May 1883) 2. “William Barton Rogers: Chronology” MIT Libraries 3. Edgar Fahs Smith, "James Blythe Rogers, Chemist, 1802—1852" Journal of Chemical Education (June 1943)

Occupations

• Physicians
• University and college faculty members

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: