I101303: GWENLLILAN ap Madog (ABT 1125

Notes

BENJAMIN RUSH, M.D., of Philadelphia, Patriot; b. 24th December, 1745; d. 19th April, 1813; graduated at the University of Edinburgh, 1768; returned to America and settled in Philadelphia, 1769, where he became Medical Professor in the University of Pennsylvania; Member of Provincial Conference of Pennsylvania, and later of Congress; signed the Declaration of Independence, 4th July, 1776; m. 11th January, 1776, Julia STOCKTON, who d. 7th July, 1848, eldest dau. of Hon. Richard STOCKTON.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: Volume IX
page 193
RUSH, Benjamin, signer, was born near Poquessing Creek, Pa., in 1741; son of John and Susan Hall (Harvey) Rush; grandson of James and Rachel (Peart) Rush, and of Joseph Hall of Tucony, Pa.; great-grandson of William Rush, who came to America in 1683, and of Bryan Peart of Poquessing Creek; and great2-grandson of John Rush, who commanded a troop of horse under Cromwell, became a Quaker at the close of the war in 1660, married Susanna Lucas, and in 1683 emigrated to Pennsylvania, settling at Byberry, near Philadelphia, where he died in May, 1699.

Upon the death of his father in 1752, Benjamin Rush was left to the care of his uncle, Samuel Finley (q.v.), by whom he was prepared for college in his Nottingham, Md., classical school. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1760, A.M., 1763; studied medicine under Dr. John Redman of Philadelphia, and was graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, M.D., 1768. He spent a year hearing medical lectures in London and Paris, and returning to Philadelphia in 1769, was professor of chemistry in the Philadelphia Medical college.

He was a member of the provisional conference of Pennsylvania, and chairman of the committee appointed to report to congress "that it was expedient to declare independence." He was surgeon to the Pennsylvania navy, 1775–76, and signed the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776. He was married in 1776 to Julia, daughter of Richard Stockton, and their son, Dr. William Rush (1801–64) married Elizabeth Fox, daughter of Hugh Roberts of Philadelphia county.

Benjamin Rush was appointed surgeon-general of the middle department of the Continental army in April, 1777, becoming physician-general in July, 1777. He was in attendance on the army at the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown, and during the winter at Valley Forge. He resigned his office in February, 1778, and returned to Philadelphia, where he resumed his practice and professorship. He was surgeon to the Pennsylvania hospital, 1784–1813; port physician of Philadelphia, 1790–93, and in an address to the legislature of Pennsylvania in 1786 favored the establishment of a system of free schools, one at least in every township, three colleges, one at Carlisle, one at Lancaster, and one at Philadelphia, "the university to furnish masters for the colleges, and the colleges to furnish musters for the free schools." This led to the establishment of Dickinson college, chartered in 1783, of which he was the acknowledged founder. He was also the founder of the Philadelphia dispensary, and a censor of the College of Physicians.

He was a member of the state convention that ratified the constitution of the United States in 1787, and a member of the committee that formed the state constitution the same year. He was professor of the theory and practice of medicine at the medical department of the University [p.193] of Pennsylvania, 1789–91; professor of clinical practice, 1797–1813, and professor of clinical practice and the practice of physic, 1797–1813. He was treasurer of the U.S. mint, 1799–1813; succeeded Benjamin Franklin as president of the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery; was president of the Philadelphia Medical society; vice-president and founder of the Philadelphia Bible society, and an originator of the American Philosophical society, and vice-president, 1800. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him by Yale in 1812. He is the author of: Medical Inquiries and Observations (5 vols., 1789–98); Essays on the Mode of Education Proper to a Republic (1786); Account of the Philadelphia Society for the Establishment of Charity Schools (1796); Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical (1798, 2d ed., 1806); Sixteen Introductory Lectures (1811); Diseases of the Mind (1812, 5th ed., 1835), and of many essays on slavery, temperance and medical topics. In the selection of names for the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York university, in October, 1900, his name, in Class L, Physicians and Surgeons, received forty-two votes, the highest number in the class, in which no name secured a place, fifty-one votes being necessary to place the name in the Hall. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., April 19, 1813.

Surgeon General of Continental Army during the American Revolution

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[458088]
died of typhus

My Southern Family

GWENLLILAN ap Madog

ABT 1125 - ____

ID Number: I101303

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James Heath BRANCH

1825 - 1844

ID Number: I30733

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Ann GLOVER

ABT 1744 - 1813

ID Number: I82033

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Robert LEWIS

20 Dec 1752 - ____

ID Number: I34054

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Homer Kirk PUCKETT

1879 - 1969

ID Number: I18133

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Nancy A. ROWE

Mar 1860 - ____

ID Number: I66112

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Dr. Benjamin RUSH M.D.

24 Dec 1745 - 19 Apr 1813

ID Number: I91316

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JOAN SALERNE

ABT 1310 - ____

ID Number: I103673

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Ann "Polly" TUTT

1788 - ____

ID Number: I99941

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Nora Mardelle WEAVER

ABT 1900 - ____

ID Number: I43337

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