Wormley, Theodore George

4/1/1826–1/2/1897
AMERICAN
MICROCHEMIST

Over the course of his career, Theodore G. Wormley became known as distinguished microchemist and toxicologist, frequently writing, teaching, and consulting on the subjects of chemistry, poisons, toxicology, and medicine to local, national, and international audiences. He spent more than forty years teaching at universities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and also worked as a chemist for the state of Ohio. Wormley is the author of the 1867 The Micro Chemistry of Poisons, a book that became known as a standard on the subject at that time.

Wormley was born in Wormleysburg, Pennsylvania, in 1826. He attended Dickinson College, where his interest in science and mathematics grew. To pursue these interests, Wormley left Dickinson to attend Philadelphia Medical College, where he earned a medical degree in 1849. He then opened his own medical practice in Columbus, Ohio.

Within just a few years of opening his own practice, Wormley also began working as a professor. He was hired as a professor of chemistry and natural sciences at Capitol University in Columbus, a position he held for thirteen years. During the same time, Wormley took on a second professorship, teaching chemistry and toxicology at Starling Medical College. He left Starling in 1877 to take the position of professor of chemistry and toxicology at the University of Pennsylvania, a position he held until his death. And while Wormley was teaching students the intricacies of chemistry and toxicology, he also spent a great deal of time studying and researching the topics of poisons and chemicals. Wormley's expertise on these subjects made him a frequent consultant and witness on criminal cases and trials.

In addition to his work as an educator, Wormley also held a number of positions within the Ohio state government. In 1867, he was appointed as the state gas commissioner of Ohio, and in 1869 he became the state chemist of the Ohio Geological Survey. In that role Wormley developed chemical methods to analyze coal, iron ores, clays, soils, slags, and limestone.

Wormley was also a prolific writer, publishing articles and books about chemistry, medicine, and toxicology. His best-known work is The Micro Chemistry of Poisons, published in 1867. In the book Wormley discusses the chemical compositions of poisons. His wife drew many of the accompanying illustrations.