his life activities, for regrettable as it is, there does lack a
picture of the man's personality. The parents of James Cutbush were
Edward Cutbush and Anne Marriat. The father was a stone-cutter or
carver. To these good people were given four children: Edward, born in
1772; Ann, in 1782 (who died in 1798); William, born in 1785, and
James in 1788. Edward became prominent as a naval surgeon, while
William graduated from West Point in 1812, and attained eminence as an
engineer.
Indeed, at an early age, William was a midshipman in the United States
Navy, and was taken prisoner by the Algerines at the time the frigate
Philadelphia ran aground in the harbor of Tripoli, from which he was
released after two years' confinement in prison, and returned to the
United States, when he became a cadet in the Military Academy.
James Cutbush must have been a man of mark among his neighbors--as
indicated by sundry positions of trust which he held. Further, he must
have been a favorite with the Cadet Corps at West Point, where he was
buried. His tomb there bears this inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of Dr. James Cutbush, Member of the
American Philosophical Society, Late Surgeon, U. S. Army and
Professor of Chemistry at the U. S. Military Academy, West
Point, N. Y., who departed this life December 15, 1823, aged
35 years. An honourable tribute of respect from his grateful
pupils."
The work of Cutbush was of the genuine pioneer character, and enriched
the annals of American chemistry. While it would be delightful to know
more of the man, cruel fate compels us to be content with the
estimate, brief though it is, given in Poulsen's _American Daily
Advertiser_, December 23, 1823:
"A man not only known for his extensive knowledge of
chemistry, but distinguished for his philosophy and
patriotism."
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
The following typos have been corrected:
Page 28: Socity changed to Society.
Page 44: Braeutigram changed to Braeutigam.
Page 51: responsibile changed to responsible.
Page 67: beginnig changed to beginning.