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9 unusual facts about Benjamin Silliman


American Journal of Science

The editorship long remained in the family of Professor Silliman, as he was assisted by his son, Benjamin Silliman, Jr., from 1838.

The American Journal of Science (AJS) is the United States of America's longest-running scientific journal, having been published continuously since its conception in 1818 by Professor Benjamin Silliman, who edited and financed it himself.

Benjamin Silliman

He studied law with Simeon Baldwin from 1798 to 1799 and became a tutor at Yale from 1799 to 1802.

Silliman was born in a tavern in North Stratford, now Trumbull, Connecticut, a few months after his mother, Mary (Fish) Silliman (widow of John Noyes), fled for her life from their Fairfield, Connecticut, home to escape two thousand invading British troops that burned Fairfield center to the ground.

Benjamin Silliman, Jr.

He also reported very optimistically on the mines at Lake Valley, New Mexico, which were also money-losers for shareholders.

History of Trumbull, Connecticut

Benjamin Silliman was born in the Eliakim Beach tavern, built by mill owner Ebenezer Hawley in 1765, a few months after his mother Mary (Fish) Silliman (widow of John Noyes) fled from their Fairfield home to escape 2,000 invading British troops ordered to burn Fairfield.

Petroleum seep

In 1854, Benjamin Silliman, a science professor at Yale University, was the first American to fractionate petroleum by distillation.

Samuel Morey

The summer after the one Morey spent at Hartford, he returned to New York and gave Livingston a ride in his boat (perhaps at the advice of Benjamin Silliman—the publisher of Morey's papers—who knew Livingston to be a supporter of the arts ).

Soda fountain

The soda fountain began in Europe, but achieved its greatest success in the U.S. Benjamin Silliman, a Yale chemistry professor, was among the first to introduce soda water to America.


Charles Upham Shepard

The study of mineralogy led to his preparation of papers on that subject which he sent to the American Journal of Science, and in this manner he became acquainted with Benjamin Silliman, the elder.

Gold Selleck Silliman

The General's son Benjamin Silliman was born in a tavern, originally the home of Ebenezer Hawley in Trumbull, Connecticut, after his mother, Mary Silliman, fled Fairfield ahead of the invading British troops.


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