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Lt Col Lt Col John William MALLET

Lt Col Lt Col John William MALLET

Male 1832 - 1912  (80 years)

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  • Name Lt Col John William MALLET  [1
    Prefix Lt Col 
    Residence 1832  94 Capel Street, Dublin, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Birth 10 Oct 1832  Drumcondra House, 5 Drumcondra Terrace, Dublin, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    Christening 9 Nov 1832  St Mary's Church, Dublin, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Gender Male 
    Note
    • In 1853, John William Mallett had graduated from the Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland with a degree in experimental physics, before setting off to the United States to help his father in his earthquake research. John moved to the United States after receiving his A.B. at Trinity College in Dublin, and taught as an assistant professor of analytical chemistry at Amherst College for part of 1854. He was appointed chemist to the Geological Survey of Alalbama in 1855.

      In 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Confederate cavalry during the American Civil War and soon after, was made an officer, but his abilities as a chemist soon came to the attention of the Confederate government who appointed him Superintendant of the army's ammunitions factories at Macon, Georgia. As a result he performed a vital role in the war.

      Although John had resided more than 50 years in the United States, he retained his British citizenship until the end of his life.

      This John William Mallett became a professor of chemistry at the Universities of Alabama and Louisiana. He was also the first Chairman of the Faculty at the newly founded University of Texas and had the initials 'LL.D, Ph.D and F.R.S.' after his name. However, his longest service was at the University of Virginia where he taught for more than 40 years.

      Following John's death in 1912, the Library in the then newly constructed Chemistry Building (now named Welch Hall) at the University of Virginia was named in his honour in 1931. 'The Alumni Bulletin', University of Virginia, 1894 (page 7) states: 'His paternal grandfather was John Mallet, born at North Tawton, Devonshire. He was taught as a child by his mother, and for one year by a governess ...'

      He was also a charter member and vice president of the American Chemical Society.

      For a detailed biography see the University of Texas Libraries website at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/chem/history/malletbio.html

      [Copyright 2010 - Trevor Brice and Richard Mallett. Not to be reproduced without the authors' permission]

      From The 20th Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Vol.7, p.231:

      MALLET, John William, chemist, was born in Dublin, Ireland, Oct. 10, 1832; son of Robert Mallet, civil engineer, a fellow of the Royal Society of London. He was graduated at Trinity college, Dublin, A.B., 1853; studied chemistry at the University of Göttingen, and received there the degree of Ph.D. in 1852. He came to the United States in 1853. He was assistant professor of analytical chemistry at Amherst college, Mass., 1854; chemist to the geological survey of Alabama, 1855-56; professor of chemistry at the University of Alabama, 1856-60. In 1861 he entered the service of the Confederate States on the staff of Gen. R. E. Rodes in the Army of Northern Virginia; was superintendent of C.S. ordnance laboratories, 1862-65, and reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel of artillery. He was professor of chemistry in the medical department of the University of Louisiana, 1865-68; of analytical, industrial and agricultural chemistry in the University of Virginia, 1868-72; and of general and industrial chemistry there, 1872-83. He was a lecturer at Johns Hopkins university on the "Utilization of Waste Materials," in 1877, and on "The Early History of Chemical Industries" in 1878. He was professor of chemistry and physics and chairman of the faculty in the University of Texas, 1883-84; was professor of chemistry at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, 1884-85, and in 1885 became again professor of general and industrial chemistry at the University of Virginia. He investigated the chemical methods used for determining organic matters in potable waters and made a study of the water supply of various cities in the United States, comparing both the methods and the waters, for the National Board of Health in 1880-82. The report on this investigation was published by the board in 1882. He was the author of sundry scientific papers published in the transactions of learned societies in America and Europe. He received the honorary degree of M.D. from the University of Louisiana in 1868 and that of LL.D. from the College of William and Mary and from the University of Mississippi in 1872, and from Princeton university at the sesquicentennial celebration of 1890. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1877, was president of the American Chemical society in 1882, a vice-president of the Chemical Society of London in 1888-90; fellow of the London Chemical society; a member of the Chemical Society of Paris and the German Chemical society, and one of the original members of the American Chemical society; associate fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Boston; corresponding member of the New York Academy of Sciences; member of the American Philosophical society, and fellow of the College of Physicians, Philadelphia; honorary member of the Medical and Chirurgical faculty of Maryland; member of Washington Academy of Sciences, Washington; fellow of the Medical Society of Virginia, and member of scientific societies in Mexico and Brazil. He three times served as a member of the assay commission of the United States. He was married in 1857 to Mary E., daughter of Judge John J. Ormond of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and secondly in 1888 to Mrs. Joséphine Burthe of New Orleans, La., daughter of Joseph Pagès of Toulouse, France.
    SW Group
    UKC 1881
    Occupation 1855  [5, 6
    Professor of chemistry at the University of Alabama 
    Occupation 1861  [6
    Confederate soldier 
    Occupation Abt 1861  Macon, Georgia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Superintendent of of the Confederate Ordnance Laboratories. 
    Occupation 1868  [6
    Professor of chemistry at the University of Virginia 
    Residence 1880  Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Occupation 1882  [6
    President of the American Chemical Society 
    Occupation 1883  [6
    Professor, Chair of Physics, University of Texas, Austin 
    Burial Nov 1912  University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Death 6 Nov 1912  Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Person ID I9342  Southwest
    Last Modified 20 Jun 2017 

    Father Robert MALLET,   b. 3 Jun 1810, Ryders Row, Dublin, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 5 Nov 1881, Enmore, 2 The Grove, Clapham Road, Lambeth, London, England Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 71 years) 
    Mother Cordelia WATSON,   b. Abt 1802   d. 21 Mar 1854 (Age ~ 52 years) 
    Marriage 12 Nov 1831  St Mary's Church, Dublin, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F3053  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Mary Elizabeth ORMOND,   b. Abt 1837, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1886 (Age ~ 49 years) 
    Marriage 21 Jul 1857  Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3, 4
    Children 
     1. John Ormond MALLET,   b. 22 Aug 1858, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 8 Feb 1884, Austin, Texas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 25 years)
     2. Robert William MALLET,   b. 26 Feb 1861, Mobile, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Jun 1931, 1354 Westmoreland Park, Larchmont, Norfolk, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)
     3. Mary Constance Helen MALLET,   b. 4 Aug 1864, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Dec 1943, Savannah, Georgia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 79 years)
    Family ID F3048  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Josephine PAGES,   b. Abt 1837, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Abt 1927 (Age ~ 90 years) 
    Marriage Dec 1888  Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    • At the time Josephine married John William Mallet, she was living in Louisiana, United States. This is where Josephine mainly lived during her lifetime. She had been married previously.
    Family ID F3049  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1832 - 94 Capel Street, Dublin, Ireland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 10 Oct 1832 - Drumcondra House, 5 Drumcondra Terrace, Dublin, Ireland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristening - 9 Nov 1832 - St Mary's Church, Dublin, Ireland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 21 Jul 1857 - Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - 1880 - Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - Dec 1888 - Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - Nov 1912 - University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 6 Nov 1912 - Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Lt. Col. John William Mallet
    Lt. Col. John William Mallet
    Born in Dublin, he was the son of Robert Mallet, a famous Irish engineer. John W played a key role for the Confederate army in the American Civil War, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, by setting up and running its main munitions factory at Macon, Georgia. He also helped found the University of Texas at Austin and was Professor of Chemistry at the University of Virginia. Despite settling in America he remained a British citizen.

    Picture reproduced from The Photographic History of the Civil War ed. by Francis Trevelyan Miller, 10 vols. (New York: Review of the Reviews, 1911), 10: 27.

    Photo used with the kind permission of Leon Basile (Find-a Grave.com)

    Headstones
    Tombstone of John William Mallet
    Tombstone of John William Mallet
    Buried at the University of Virginia Cemetery and Columbarium, Charlottesville, Albemarle, Virginia, USA.

    The Latin inscription translates as "soldier - professor - noble man"

    [Used with the kind permission of S.G. Thompson]

  • Sources 
    1. [S2258] Richard mallett, compiler, Reading, UK, Descendants of James Mallett of Spreyton, Devon, England, database, privately held by Robert Mallett, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, M23S202, M23R260, Jan 3, 2016., M23S202, M23R260.

    2. [S2126] Irish Genealogy: Location: www.irishgenealogy.ie; Hereinafter cited as Irish Genealogy.

    3. [S2066] International Genealogical Index: Name: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. FamilySearch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 50 East North Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 84150. Hereinafter cited as International Genealogical Index.

    4. [S2078] Reginald West, Reginald West manuscript. Royal Dublin Society library, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland, 01 240 7256. Hereinafter cited as Reginald West manuscript.

    5. [S2137] Dictionary of Irish Architects: Name: Irish Architectural Archive; Location: www.dia.ie/architects; Hereinafter cited as Dictionary of Irish Architects.

    6. [S2144] University of Texas, University of Texas Libraries website: Location: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/chem/history/malletbio.html; Hereinafter cited as University of Texas Libraries website.

    7. [S2143] IGI, 1880 USA Census Hereinafter cited as 1880 USA Census.