John William Draper (May 5, 1811 – January 4, 1882) was an English
polymath
A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, ...
: a scientist, philosopher, physician,
chemist
A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a graduated scientist trained in the study of chemistry, or an officially enrolled student in the field. Chemists study the composition of ...
, historian and photographer. He is credited with pioneering portrait photography (1839–40) and producing the first detailed photograph of the moon in 1840. He was also the first president of the
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all ...
(1876–77) and a founder of the
New York University School of Medicine.
One of Draper's books, the ''History of the Conflict between Religion and Science'', popularised the
conflict thesis proposing intrinsic hostility in the
relationship between religion and science. It was widely read and was translated into several languages.
His son,
Henry Draper, and his granddaughter,
Antonia Maury, were astronomers. His granddaughter,
Carlotta Maury (Antonia's younger sister), was a paleontologist. His eldest son,
John Christopher Draper, was a chemist; and son
Daniel Draper, a meteorologist.
[John William Draper]
The Notable Names Database
Early life
John William Draper was born May 5, 1811, in
St. Helens, Lancashire, England, to John Christopher Draper, a
Wesleyan clergyman, and Sarah (Ripley) Draper. He also had three sisters,
Dorothy Catherine Draper (August 6, 1807 – December 10, 1901),
[Howard R. McManus]
"The Most Famous Daguerreian Portrait: Exploring the History of the Dorothy Catherine Draper Daguerreotype,"
The Daguerreian Annual 1995, pp. 148–171. Elizabeth Johnson, and Sarah Ripley. On June 23, he was baptized by the
Wesleyan Methodist minister
Jabez Bunting. His father often needed to move the family due to serving various congregations throughout England. John Wm. Draper was home tutored until 1822, when he entered
Woodhouse Grove School. He returned to home instruction (1826) prior to entering
University College London
University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...
in 1829. While at
University College London
University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...
, Draper studied chemistry under the direction of
Edward Turner (chemist).
On September 13, 1831, John William Draper married Antonia Caetana de Paiva Pereira Gardner (–1870), the daughter of Daniel Gardner, a court physician to
John VI of Portugal
'' Dom'' John VI (; 13 May 1767 – 10 March 1826), known as "the Clement" (), was King of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves from 1816 to 1825, and after the recognition of Brazil's independence, titular Emperor of Brazil ...
and
Charlotte of Spain. Antonia was born in Brazil after the royal family fled Portugal with
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
's
invasion
An invasion is a Offensive (military), military offensive of combatants of one geopolitics, geopolitical Legal entity, entity, usually in large numbers, entering territory (country subdivision), territory controlled by another similar entity, ...
. There is dispute as to the identity of Antonia's mother. Around 1830, Antonia was sent with her brother Daniel to live with their aunt in London.
Following his father's death in July 1831, John William's mother was urged to move with her children to the US state of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. John William hoped to acquire a teaching position at a local
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a Protestant Christianity, Christian Christian tradition, tradition whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's brother ...
college.
Virginia
In 1832, the family settled in
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
Mecklenburg County is a county (United States), county in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 30,319. Its county seat is Boydton, Virginia, Boydton.
His ...
, east of Christiansville (now
Chase City). Although he arrived too late to obtain the prospective teaching position, John William established a laboratory in Christiansville. Here he conducted experiments and published eight papers before entering medical school. His sister Dorothy Catherine Draper provided finances through teaching drawing and painting for his medical education. In March 1836, he graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine (commonly known as Penn Med) is the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania, a Private university, private, Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia. Founded in 1765, the Perelman School of M ...
. That same year, he began teaching at
Hampden–Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College (H-SC) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Men's colleges in the United States, college for men in Hampden Sydney, Virginia. Founded in 1775, it is the oldest privatel ...
in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
.
New York
In 1837, Draper accepted an appointment to be head of chemistry in a proposed medical school at
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
, but sufficient funds were not available to go ahead with the project. In 1839, Draper was elected undergraduate professor of chemistry and botany at the university, and moved with his family to New York City .
Once there he helped to found the
New York University Medical School, acting as a professor there from 1840 to 1850, president of the school from 1850 to 1873, and as a professor of chemistry until 1881.
Work
Draper did important research in
photochemistry
Photochemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical effects of light. Generally, this term is used to describe a chemical reaction caused by absorption of ultraviolet (wavelength from 100 to 400 Nanometre, nm), visible ligh ...
, made
portrait photography
Portrait photography, or portraiture, is a type of photography aimed toward capturing the personality of a person or group of people by using effective Photographic lighting, lighting, Painted photography backdrops, backdrops, and poses. A portr ...
possible by his improvements (1839) on
Louis Daguerre's process, and published Organization of Plants (1844), a textbook on Chemistry (1846), textbook on Natural Philosophy (1847), textbook on Physiology (1866), and Scientific Memoirs (1878) on
radiant energy
In physics, and in particular as measured by radiometry, radiant energy is the energy of electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic and gravitational radiation. As energy, its SI unit is the joule (J). The quantity of radiant energy may be calcul ...
.
In the spring of 1839, Draper, with years of experience in photochemistry, took
Talbotype photographs at
Hampden Sydney College in Virginia. However, he was
dissatisfied with the results and decided to wait for the publication of the
daguerreotype
Daguerreotype was the first publicly available photography, photographic process, widely used during the 1840s and 1850s. "Daguerreotype" also refers to an image created through this process.
Invented by Louis Daguerre and introduced worldwid ...
process. Once the details of the process arrived in America in late September 1839, Draper, now a professor at
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
, captured landscape photographs. On or around September 23, he took one of the earliest daguerreotype portraits, which depicted his assistant, William Henry Goode.
Throughout 1839 and 1840, Draper focused on solving the challenge of creating daguerreotype portraits. He collaborated with
Samuel Morse
Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American inventor and painter. After establishing his reputation as a portrait painter, Morse, in his middle age, contributed to the invention of a Electrical telegraph#Morse ...
and in spring 1840 operated a daguerreotype studio, one of the earliest of its kind, in a building on the roof of the
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
. Draper also photographed his sister,
Dorothy Catherine Draper, and one of those pictures (see image) became known to the public via the letter which Draper sent to
John Herschel
Sir John Frederick William Herschel, 1st Baronet (; 7 March 1792 – 11 May 1871) was an English polymath active as a mathematician, astronomer, chemist, inventor and experimental photographer who invented the blueprint and did botanical work. ...
in 1840. Several copies were made of this picture in the 19th century, and the photograph attached with Draper's letter was also likely a copy made by Draper himself.

In March 1840 Draper became the second person to produce photographs of an astronomical object, the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...
, considered the first
astrophotographs.
In 1843 he made daguerreotypes of the solar spectrum that revealed new infra-red and ultra violet lines.
In 1850 he was making
photomicrograph
A micrograph is an image, captured photographically or digitally, taken through a microscope or similar device to show a magnified image of an object. This is opposed to a macrograph or photomacrograph, an image which is also taken on a mi ...
s and engaged his son, Henry (then 13 years old), into their production.
Draper developed the proposition in 1842 that only light rays that are absorbed can produce chemical change. It came to be known as the
Grotthuss–Draper law when his name was teamed with a prior but apparently unknown promulgator
Theodor Grotthuss of the same idea in 1817.
In 1847 he published the observation that all solids glow red at about the same temperature, about 977 °F (798 K), which has come to be known as the
Draper point.
On Saturday 30 May the
1860 Oxford evolution debate featured Draper's lecture on his paper "On the Intellectual Development of Europe, considered with reference to the views of Mr. Darwin and others, that the progression of organisms is determined by law." Draper's presentation was an early example of applying a Darwinian metaphor of
adaptation
In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the p ...
and environment to social and political studies, but was thought to be long and boring. The hall was crowded to hear Bishop
Samuel Wilberforce
Samuel Wilberforce, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (7 September 1805 – 19 July 1873) was an English bishop in the Church of England, and the third son of William Wilberforce. Known as "Soapy Sam", Wilberforce was one of the greatest public sp ...
's views on
Charles Darwin
Charles Robert Darwin ( ; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English Natural history#Before 1900, naturalist, geologist, and biologist, widely known for his contributions to evolutionary biology. His proposition that all speci ...
's recent publication of ''
On the Origin of Species
''On the Origin of Species'' (or, more completely, ''On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life'')The book's full original title was ''On the Origin of Species by M ...
'', and the occasion was a historically significant part of the
reaction to Darwin's theory due to reports of
Thomas Henry Huxley's response to Wilberforce.

Contributions to the discipline of history: Draper is well known also as the author of ''The History of the Intellectual Development of Europe'' (1862), applying the methods of physical science to history, a ''History of the American Civil War'' (3 vols., 1867–1870), and a ''History of the Conflict between Religion and Science'' (1874).
The last book listed is among the most influential works on the
conflict thesis, which takes its name from Draper's title. His book examined the
relationship between religion and science, dismissing ideas of harmony and presenting the history of science as "not a mere record of isolated discoveries; it is a narrative of the conflict of two contending powers, the expansive force of the human intellect on the one side, and the compression arising from traditional faith and human interests on the other." After outlining the origins of science in
ancient Greek philosophy
Ancient Greek philosophy arose in the 6th century BC. Philosophy was used to make sense of the world using reason. It dealt with a wide variety of subjects, including astronomy, epistemology, mathematics, political philosophy, ethics, metaphysics ...
, Draper presented the development of Christianity as leading to repression of science. His argument, aimed at his fellow Protestants, employed
anti-Catholic
Anti-Catholicism is hostility towards Catholics and opposition to the Catholic Church, its clergy, and its adherents. Scholars have identified four categories of anti-Catholicism: constitutional-national, theological, popular and socio-cul ...
rhetoric, but also said that these "two rival divisions of the Christian church" were "in accord on one point: to tolerate no science except such as they considered agreeable to the Scriptures", and both were liable to "theological odium". The book went through fifty printings in the United States alone, and was translated into ten languages.
Professor
Ronald Numbers has pointed to Draper's book as a source of popular misconceptions about historical conflict between science and religion, saying that it was "less of a dispassionate history, which it wasn't, than a screed against Roman Catholics" motivated by personal animus at the behavior of his sister, a Catholic nun, regarding the death of his son.
[Numbers]
Myths and Truths in Science and Religion: A historical perspective
''Lecture archive'' Archived 11 October 2017
Draper was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1844. He served as the first president of the
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all ...
in 1876.
He was elected to the
National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...
in 1877.
Children
*
John Christopher Draper (1835–1885)
*
Henry Draper (1837–1882)
* Virginia Draper Maury (1839–1885)
*
Daniel Draper (1841–1931)
* William Draper (1845–1853)
* Antonia Draper Dixon (1849–1923)
Death

He died on January 4, 1882, at his home in
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson is a administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in Westchester County located in the southwestern part of the administrative divisions of New York#Town, town of Greenburgh, New York, Greenburgh in the state of New Yo ...
, at the age of 70. The funeral was held at
St Mark's Church in-the-Bowery in New York City. He was buried in
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery is a cemetery in the western portion of Brooklyn, New York City. The cemetery is located between South Slope, Brooklyn, South Slope/Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, Greenwood Heights, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, Win ...
,
Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
.
Legacy
In 1975, Draper's house, known as the
Henry Draper Observatory, in Hastings was designated a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...
.
In 1976,
New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
founded the John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Humanities and Social Thought (Draper Program)
John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Humanities and Social Thought , New York University , Draper Program , NYU
. Draper.fas.nyu.edu. Retrieved on 2011-09-05. in honor of his lifelong commitment to interdisciplinary study.
In 2001, Draper and the founding of the American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all ...
were designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark at New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
.
Publications
Draper wrote a number of books and articles for magazines and journals
Google Scholar
. His books include:
Elements of Chemistry, Including the Most Recent Discoveries and Applications of the Science to Medicine and Pharmacy, and to the Arts.
by Robert Kane and John William Draper. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1842.
History of the American Civil War.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1867–70.
History of the Conflict Between Religion and Science.
New York: D. Appleton, 1874.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1863
1900 edition, v.1v.2
* Human Physiology, Statistical and Dynamical; or, the Conditions and Course of the Life of Man. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1856.
* Life of Franklin, Edited by Ronald S. Wilkinson. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1977.
* Draper, John William. (1875). ''History of the Conflict between Religion and Science''. Henry S. King & Co (reissued by Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...
, 2009; )
Science in America: Inaugural address of Dr. John W. Draper, as president of the American Chemical Society
New York: J.F. Trow & Son, Printers, 1876.
Scientific Memoirs; Being Experimental Contributions to a Knowledge of Radiant Energy.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1878.
* Text-Book on Chemistry. For the Use of Schools and Colleges. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1851
1861 edition
Text-Book on Natural Philosophy.
New York: Harper & Brothers, 1847.
Thoughts on the Future Civil Policy of America.
3rd ed. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1867.
* Treatise on the Forces Which Produce the Organization of Plants. With an Appendix Containing Several Memoirs on Capillary Attraction, Electricity, and the Chemical Action of Light. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1844.
References
Sources
* Barker, George Frederick
Memoir of John William Draper: 1811–1882.
Washington, D.C., 1886.
*
*
* Miller, Lillian B., Frederick Voss, and Jeannette M. Hussey. The Lazzaroni: Science and Scientists in Mid-Nineteenth-Century America. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1972.
* Ungureanu, James C
Science, Religion, and the Protestant Tradition: Retracing the Origins of Conflict
Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2019.
External links
''The Daguerreian Annual'', 1995, 148–71.
* ttps://www.historybroker.com/light/web/light.htm McManus, Howard R. "Into the Light: John William Draper and the Earliest American Photographic Portraits."
THE DAGUERREOTYPE PORTRAIT OF DOROTHY DRAPER
The Photographic Journal (Royal Photographic Society), December 1970, vol. 110, pp. 478–482
John William Draper family papers, 1777-1951
at the Library of Congress
The Library of Congress (LOC) is a research library in Washington, D.C., serving as the library and research service for the United States Congress and the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It also administers Copyright law o ...
Draper Family Collection, ca. 1826–1936
at the National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center is a historical museum in Washington, D.C. It collects, preserves, and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific, and m ...
Draper Family Collection, 1836–1982
at the New York University
New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...
Archives
*
*
Harper's Magazine articles by John William Draper
at National Historic Chemical Landmarks
The National Historic Chemical Landmarks program was launched by the American Chemical Society in 1992 to recognize significant achievements in the history of chemistry and related professions. The program celebrates the centrality of chemistry. ...
Dorothy Catherine Draper, taken by John W. Draper
Moon - 1840
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collections
J.W. Draper lower right corner
New York University John W. Draper Interdisciplinary Master's Program in Humanities and Social Thought (Draper Program)
National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir
{{DEFAULTSORT:Draper, John William
Astrophotographers
Photochemists
1811 births
1882 deaths
American chemists
Historians of the American Civil War
British historians of science
Presidents of the American Chemical Society
Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery
People from St Helens, Merseyside
English emigrants to the United States
Alumni of University College London
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania alumni
New York University faculty
Hampden–Sydney College faculty
People educated at Woodhouse Grove School
19th-century American historians
19th-century American male writers
19th-century American photographers
American religious skeptics
Secular humanists
People from Mecklenburg County, Virginia
Scientists from Virginia
American male non-fiction writers
Historians from Virginia