John Gorrie

For other people named John Gorrie, see John Gorrie (disambiguation).
John Gorrie
statue of John Gorrie
Statue of John Gorrie, National Statuary Hall Collection
Born(1803-10-03)October 3, 1803
Nevis
DiedJune 29, 1855(1855-06-29) (aged 52)
Apalachicola, Florida, U.S.
Occupation(s)Physician, scientist, inventor

John B. Gorrie (October 3, 1803 – June 29, 1855) was a Nevisian-born American physician and scientist, credited as the inventor of mechanical refrigeration.[1][2]

Born on the Island of Nevis in the Leeward Islands of the West Indies to Scottish parents on October 3, 1803, he 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 his Masonic Lodge, and one of the founding vestrymen of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Gorrie Monument in Apalachicola, Florida.

Gorrie's medical research involved the study of tropical diseases, particularly yellow fever. At the time the theory that bad air — mal-aria — caused diseases was a prevalent hypothesis, and based on this theory, he urged draining the swamps and the cooling of sickrooms.[3] For this he cooled rooms with ice in a basin suspended from the ceiling. Cool air, being heavier, flowed down across the patient and through an opening near the floor.

  1. ^ Ice and Refrigeration. Nickerson & Collins Company. 1919. p. 235.
  2. ^ "John Gorrie". Architect of the Capitol.
  3. ^ Burke, James (2003). Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture. Simon and Schuster. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7432-4976-8.