John Michael Maisch

John Michael Maisch (January 30, 1831 – September 10, 1893) was a United States pharmacist, the "father of adequate pharmaceutical legislation."

Biography

Germany John Michael Maisch was born in Hanau, Germany, the son of Conrad Maisch, a merchant. He received his early education in the free schools of Hanau. When he was 12, his parents apprenticed him to a goldsmith. This only lasted three days since school officials disapproved and demanded his return to academic studies. One of his teachers introduced him to the study of mineralogy and microscopy, and he did practical fieldwork in the Hanau vicinity. He conceived an ambition for a university education. He was at first inclined toward theology, but an increasing interest in natural science led him to devote himself to scientific studies. His devotion to his studies was such that his health became undermined, and he was obliged to give up his close application to study as well as his ambition for a university education.

He joined the military service of Hesse and imbibed the revolutionary ideas circulating among the soldiers at that time. Feeling the inconsistency of his situation, he left the military for the Turners and joined them in promulgating revolutionary ideas in the Main River valley. This resulted in him being arrested in Sinsheim and sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at hard labor. With the help of friends, he escaped.

He was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society on January 18, 1884.

At his funeral, there were representatives from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy; the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association; Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 155, F. and A. M.; Covenant Lodge, No. 114, I. O. O. F.; Cleomenes Senate, No. 14, Order of Sparta; Harmony Chapter, No. 52, Royal Arch Masons; Quaker City Lodge, No. 116, A. O. U. W.; and Deutsche Pionier Verein. Interment was at Chelton Hills, and the body was cremated.

In 1859, he married Charlotte Justine Kuhl, a niece of Heinrich Kuhl. A widow, five sons and two daughters survived him.

Publications His original investigations in technical pharmacy were numerous, and treated improved processes of analysis, botanical methods, and chemical researches. For the most part, his research was published in the American Journal of Pharmacy. Other publications:

Griffith's Universal Formulary, editor (3d ed., Philadelphia, 1874) The National Dispensatory, with Alfred M. Stillé (4 eds., 1879-86). Stillé, a physician, did the medical part, and Maisch wrote the chemical, botanical, pharmaceutical and materia medica part. A Manual of Organic Materia Medica (at least 5 eds., 1882–1892). G. H. E. Muhlenberg als Botaniker (1886)