John Maclean had a short but interesting life which had an impact on the development of chemistry in America. He was born on 1<sup>st</sup> March 1871. Both his parents died when he was young and he was brought up by his guardian, George Macintosh who was the father of Charles Macintosh, the inventor of the raincoat (Macintosh). He was accepted by the University of Glasgow before his thirteenth birthday. In about 1887 he left Glasgow to continue studies in Edinburgh, London and Paris. In 1790 he resumed his studies at the University of Glasgow receiving a Diploma that allowed him to practice surgery and pharmacy in 1791. In 1795, he moved to America to practice medicine and surgery in Princeton, New Jersey. He also was appointed as a Professor of Chemistry and Natural History at the College of New Jersey (Princeton), being the first Professor of Chemistry in America not affiliated with a medical school. He stayed at Princeton until just before his death in 1814. His significance in American chemical history was his support of Lavoisier’s views of combustion and his vigorous opposition to Priestley’s phlogiston theory. He was also the owner of three slaves, which may affect the way in which his life is evaluated today.

John Maclean (1771-1814): An early American chemist and slave owner

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