Early Life, Family and Training Robert Cornelius was born in Philadelphia, PA, on March 1, 1809. He grew up in a household shaped by the industrious spirit of his father, Christian Cornelius, who had emigrated from Amsterdam in 1783. His mother, Sarah Cornelius, née Soder, helped raise him in a city that was becoming a center for both science and trade. As a youth, Robert attended private school, where he began to develop a particular interest in the complexities of chemistry. By 1831, Robert had entered the family business, working alongside his father. The family business was involved in…