Editing John Gorrie

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{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name   =John Gorrie
| image_name     =John Gorrie Monument.jpg
| image_size     =180px
| image_caption  =Gorrie Monument in Apalachicola
| date_of_birth  =[[October 3]], [[1802]]
| place_of_birth =[[Wikipedia:Nevis|Nevis]]
| date_of_death  =[[June 29]], [[1855]]
| place_of_death =[[Apalachicola]]
| occupation     =Physician, scientist, inventor
| religion       =
| spouse         =
| parents        =
| children       =
| signature      =
| signaturesize  =
}}
'''John Gorrie''' ([[1802]]–[[1855]]) was a physician, scientist, inventor, and humanitarian who is considered the father of [[Wikipedia:refrigeration|refrigeration]] and [[Wikipedia:air conditioning|air conditioning]]. He was born on the Island of [[Wikipedia:Nevis|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]].  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 (19th century)|Bank of Pensacola]]'s Apalachicola Branch, Secretary of the [[freemasonry|Masonic]] Lodge, and was one of the founding vestrymen of [[Trinity Episcopal Church]]. 

Dr. Gorrie's medical research involved the study of tropical diseases.  At the time the [[Wikipedia:Miasma theory of disease|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.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=Oz-0bacLB60C&pg=PA111&lpg=PA111&dq=john+gorrie+miasma&source=web&ots=DDBXKtHMLr&sig=8FtbtKlwSNkL5rc4uemp6ss8heg Link to Google Book link]</ref> 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.  

[[Image:Gorrie Ice Machine.png|thumb|right|Schematic of Gorrie's ice machine.]]
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.

==Monuments and memorials==
*In Apalachicola, [[Gorrie Square]] is named in his honor.  The square contains his grave site, a monument, the [[John Gorrie State Museum]], and the [[Apalachicola Municipal Library]].
*The [[John Gorrie Memorial Bridge]] across [[Apalachicola Bay]], connects Apalachicola with [[Eastpoint]].
*In 1914, the state of Florida gave a statue of Gorrie to the [[Wikipedia:National Statuary Hall Collection|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|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.
	
==References==
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*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. [http://www.ashrae.org/content/ASHRAE/ASHRAE/ArticleAltFormat/200362795143_326.pdf PDF file]
*[http://www.aoc.gov/cc/art/nsh/gorrie.htm NSH biography of Gorrie]
*[http://www.floridastateparks.org/johngorriemuseum/default.cfm John Gorrie Museum State Park]
*V. M. Sherlock. ''The Fever Man: a Biography of Dr. John Gorrie'', Medallion Press: 1982.
{{refend}}
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[[Category:Scientists|Gorrie, John]] [[Category:Apalachicola|Gorrie, John]]