Benjamin Rush was a famous American politician who lived and worked in times of struggle for independence. He was one of those who contributed to the founding of the United States of America. In addition, he gained popularity as a doctor, philosopher and educator. Read more about the Philadelphia native’s life and struggles on philadelphiaski.com.
The beginning of the story and the struggle for independence
Benjamin Rush was born on January 4, 1746, in a family of seven children. The situation became even more challenging when his father died at the age of 39. His mother continued to raise the children and Benjamin’s aunt helped her. Our hero was sent to the last one so that he could study at school and become an educated person. The boy exceeded expectations. First, he graduated from College of New Jersey and then received a Bachelor of Arts degree at the age of 14.
After that, he gained experience with the American Dr. John Redman in Philadelphia for several years. The latter insisted that the young man get an education at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Later, in this higher educational institution, Rush finished his master’s degree. At a young age, he mastered four languages. Besides English, he could also communicate in French, Italian and Spanish.
After returning to the Motherland, the man founded a business, namely a private medical center. At the same time, he taught chemistry to willing students at a local educational institution.
Even before the start of the American Revolutionary War, Rush led an active public life. He interacted with many Americans who later played a key role in the creation of the new country.
Many lives were saved at his medical center, reducing the number of victims of war. As a result of this, a native of Philly was appointed to the position of surgeon-general of the middle department of the Continental Army.
Using his position, Benjamin shortly managed to make several important reforms that contributed to the emergence of adequate preventive military medicine. However, due to corruption among his colleagues, he resigned.
Life after victory
After the founding of the United States of America, the signatory to the US Declaration of Independence Rush did not stop his activities. He further defended such modern phenomena as women’s rights, reforms in education and medicine, etc. He also opposed the slave trade, promoted public health, advocated a clean environment and emphasized the importance of personal and military hygiene.
In 1783, Benjamin held the position of a doctor in his native Philadelphia, where he worked until the last day of his life. At the same time, he also worked as a delegate to the Pennsylvania State Congress, where the US Constitution was adopted. At that time, he was responsible for the main treasury of the country’s Mint.
In 1796, he supported the candidacy of Thomas Jefferson in the presidential election, who later lost the national election to John Adams.
On April 19, 1813, Benjamin Rush died of typhus at the age of sixty-eight. He was buried next to his wife at the cemetery in his native village near the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
During his short but rich life, he was remembered for his progressive political and social activities. Descendants are especially grateful for Benjamin Rush’s talent in medicine. He is considered one of the pioneers of ergotherapy, which helped to avoid many victims and changed the perception of medicine. The native of Philadelphia is also said to be one of the first physicians to describe Savant syndrome.
During his career, Rush taught more than three thousand medical students. Some of them were among the founders of Rush Medical College, which is located in modern Chicago.