Joseph Goldmark

Joseph Goldmark
Born Joseph Jacob Goldmark
August 15, 1819
Kreuz, Congress Poland, Russian Empire
Died April 18, 1881 (aged 61)
Brooklyn, New York
Nationality American
Fields Medicine, chemistry
Alma mater University of Vienna
Academic advisors Anton Schrötter von Kristelli
Known for Discovery of red phosphorus
Spouse Regina Wehle (m. 1856)
Children Helen Goldmark
Pauline Goldmark
Alice Goldmark
Josephine Goldmark (1871–1950)

Joseph Jacob Goldmark (August 15, 1819 – April 18, 1881) was a Hungarian American physician and chemist, credited with the discovery of red phosphorus.[1]

Life and career

Born in Kreuz, a small town in Congress Poland, Goldmark entered the University of Vienna at age 16, studying medicine.[2] He developed an interest in chemistry under the influence of Anton Schrötter von Kristelli. Both are credited with the discovery of red phosphorus, which Goldmark presented to the Convention of Hungarian Physicians and Naturalists.

A revolutionist in his youth, Goldmark took part as a leader in the Revolution of 1848, along with Adolf Fischhof, fighting for Jewish emancipation.[3] When the revolution was stamped down, Goldmark was sentenced to death but managed to escape to the United States and settle in New York City.[4] While developing the Brooklyn factory of Goldmark and Conried, he continued to be active in politics during the rest of his life. He amassed a great deal of property to leave to his large family, which included daughters Helen (wife of Felix Adler), Pauline, and Alice (wife of Louis Brandeis),[5][6] and Josephine.

Goldmark's brother Karl Goldmark was a composer and music teacher in Vienna.

References

  1. ↑ Koren, Nathan (1973). Jewish Physicians: A Biographical Index. New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 182. ISBN 0706512693.
  2. ↑ Krause, O. (1882). "Obituary: Joseph Goldmark". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 4 (1): 7–9. doi:10.1021/ja02154a601.
  3. ↑ Graetz, Michael (2001). "Adolf Fischhof – Ein jüdischer Akademiker an der Spitze der Revolution von 1848". In Kohnle, Armin; Engehausen, Frank. Zwischen Wissenschaft und Politik: Studien zur deutschen Universitätsgeschichte (in German). Franz Steiner Verlag. pp. 296–308. ISBN 3515075461.
  4. ↑ Chastain, James (October 20, 2004). "Jewish Emancipation". Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions.
  5. ↑ Urofsky, Melvin (2009). Louis D. Brandeis: A Life. Random House. pp. 105–106. ISBN 0307378586.
  6. ↑ Medoff, Rafael. "Biography of Alice Goldmark-Brandeis". Retrieved 24 June 2013.