NSHC statue of John Gorrie

John Gorrie, (October 3, 1802 – June 29, 1855) physician, scientist, inventor, and humanitarian, is considered the father of refrigeration and air conditioning. He was born on the Island of Nevis to Scottish parents on October 3, 1802, and spent his childhood in South Carolina. He received his medical education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York in Fairfield, New York. In 1833, he moved to Apalachicola, Florida, a port city on the Gulf coast. As well as being resident physician at two hospitals, Gorrie was active in the community. At various times he served as a council member, Postmaster, President of the Bank of Pensacola's Apalachicola Branch, Secretary of the Masonic Lodge, and was one of the founding vestrymen of Trinity Episcopal Church. statue of John Gorrie; http://www. ... statue of John Gorrie; http://www. ... Part of the National Statuary Hall Collection The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol is comprised of statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history. ... is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1802 (MDCCCII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Refrigeration is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space, or from a substance, and rejecting it elsewhere for the primary purpose of lowering the temperature of the enclosed space or substance and then maintaining that lower temperature. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... For other uses, see Nevis (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Scottish people as an ethnic group. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the state. ... The mouth of the Apalachicola River, looking towards the Bay. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... Freemasons redirects here. ...

Gorrie Monument in Apalachicola, Florida.

Dr. Gorrie's medical research involved the study of tropical diseases. At the time the theory that bad air caused diseases was a prevalent hypothesis and based on this theory, he urged draining the swamps and the cooling of sickrooms. ^[1] For this he cooled rooms with ice in a basin suspended from the ceiling. Cool air, being heavier, flowed down across the patient and though an opening near the floor. Since ice had to be brought by boat from the northern lakes, Gorrie experimented with making artificial ice. Download high resolution version (580x631, 66 KB)John Gorrie Monument. ... Download high resolution version (580x631, 66 KB)John Gorrie Monument. ... The miasmatic theory of disease held that diseases such as cholera or the Black Death were caused by a miasma (Greek language: pollution), a noxious form of bad air. In general, this concept has been supplanted by the more scientifically founded germ theory of disease. ... This article is about ice water. ...

After 1845, he gave up his medical practice to pursue refrigeration projects. On May 6, 1851, Gorrie was granted Patent No. 8080 for a machine to make ice. The original model of this machine and the scientific articles he wrote are at the Smithsonian Institution. Impoverished, Gorrie sought to raise money to manufacture his machine, but the venture failed when his partner died. Humiliated by criticism, financially ruined, and his health broken, Gorrie died in seclusion on June 29, 1855. He is buried in Gorrie Square in Apalachicola. For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... The Smithsonian Institution Building or Castle on the National Mall serves as the Institutions headquarters. ...

Monuments and memorials

Schematic of Gorrie's ice machine.

• In Apalachicola, Gorrie Square is named in his honor. The square contains his grave site, a monument, the John Gorrie Museum [1], and the Apalachicola Municipal Library.
• The John Gorrie Bridge across Apalachicola Bay, connects Apalachicola with Eastpoint.
• In 1914, the state of Florida gave a statue of Gorrie to the National Statuary Hall Collection.
• John Gorrie Junior High School in Jacksonville and John Gorrie Elementary School in Tampa are named in his honor.
• The SS John Gorrie, a liberty ship, was named in his honor.
• The John Gorrie Award is awarded each year to a graduate of the University of Florida College of Medicine believed most likely to become a successful general practitioner.

Image File history File links Diagram of John Gorries Ice Machine. ... Image File history File links Diagram of John Gorries Ice Machine. ... Apalachicola Bay, Florida. ... Eastpoint is a census-designated place located in Franklin County, Florida. ... Part of the National Statuary Hall Collection The National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol is comprised of statues donated by individual states to honor persons notable in their history. ... Jacksonville redirects here. ... Tampa redirects here. ... The Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. They were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. ... The University of Florida (commonly referred to as Florida or UF) is a public land-grant, space-grant, research university located in Gainesville, Florida. ...

External links

• NSH biography of Gorrie
• John Gorrie Museum State Park

References

1. ^ Link to Google Book link

• Raymond B. Becker. John Gorrie, M.D.: Father of Air Conditioning and Mechanical Refrigeration, Carlton Press, 1972.
• John Gladstone. John Gorrie, the Visionary, ASHRAE Journal, December 1998. PDF file
• V. M. Sherlock. The Fever Man: a Biography of Dr. John Gorrie, Medallion Press: 1982.