Huston, Henry (1858-1957) | Purdue University Libraries, Archives and Special Collections

Henry Augustus Huston was born in Damariscotta, Maine on April 20, 1858. He prepared for college at Lincoln Academy, Newcastle, Maine. He received his A.B. degree from Bowdoin College in 1879, and became an assistant in Physics and Chemistry at Bowdoin College.

From 1880-1884 he was a science teacher and principal at a high school in Lafayette, Indiana. In 1882 he received a A.C. (Analytical Chemist) degree from Purdue University and an A.M. from Bowdoin College.

In 1884 he was appointed Assistant Chemist in the U. S. Department of Agriculture but declined the position, preferring a university position.

He joined the Purdue University faculty in 1884 and stayed at Purdue until 1903.

1884-1888; Professor of Physics

1884-1896; Director of Indiana State Weather Service and special observer U. S. Signal Service and U. S. Department of Agriculture.

1885; Appointed Vice President, Purdue University but declined, preferring research work.

1887-1903; State Chemist in Indiana

1888; Offered Professorship of Chemistry at University of Illinois, but declined, preferring work in Agricultural Experiment Station

1888-1902; Chemist, Indiana Agricultural Experiment Station

1902-1903; Director and Chemist, Indiana Agricultural Experiment Station

1899-1903; Professor of Agricultural Chemistry, Purdue University, a chair created by the Legislature for him, in connection with the passage of the Indiana fertilizer law, written by Huston. This law served as a starting point for much later legislation on the subject in other states.

In March 1903 he resigned to accept the position of Propaganda Manager in the Central West for the German Potash Syndicate.