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Who was Benjamin Silliman?

Benjamin Silliman was a pioneering American chemist, geologist, and educator, best known as the founder of the American Journal of Science and as one of the first professors of science at Yale College. Born in North Stratford (now Trumbull), Connecticut, he graduated from Yale in 1796 and later studied law before turning to science, a field then in its infancy in America.

In 1802, Yale appointed Silliman as professor of chemistry and natural history—an unusual role at a time when scientific education was rare. He delivered public lectures on science that were widely attended and helped establish chemistry and geology as serious academic disciplines in the United States.

In 1818, he founded the American Journal of Science, often called “Silliman’s Journal,” which became the leading scientific publication in the country throughout the 19th century. The journal published groundbreaking research in geology, chemistry, and physics and helped legitimize American science internationally.

Silliman also played a role in the early development of petroleum science and conducted one of the first analyses of petroleum in America. His son, Benjamin Silliman Jr., continued his legacy and was also a prominent chemist.

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