USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Early Philadelphia; its people, life and progress > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
176
THE LAW ACADEMY
Hamilton, William Allen, Benjamin Chew, James Wilson, Tench Francis, Edward Shippen, Thomas Mckean, William Tilghman, Francis and Joseph Hopkinson, Joseph Reed, Jared Ingersoll, Alexander J. Dallas, Richard Peters, David Paul Brown, William Rawle, John Sergeant, Eli K. Price, John Cadwalader, Charles Chauncey, Jr., James Thompson, Horace Binney, William M. Meredith, and many others. Mr. Sharswood was Presi- dent Judge of the City Courts and associated Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He was professor of law in the University and an industrious legal author. He was followed by J. I. Clark Hare and James T. Mitchell, both able jurists.
Under the present Provostship of Judge Wilson the Law Academy continues its useful existence. Although the records of the early societies have been lost their object and service was so similar to the present Law Academy that it may well claim an existence from so early a time as to distinguish it as the oldest in the country.
12
THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
LTHOUGH Gabriel Thomas tells us in 1698 that there is no need for Lawyers or Physicians because the country is "very Peaceable and Healthy," yet there were some of each in Philadelphia at a very early date to begin her continued reputa- tion for both professions. Two trained Welsh physicians, Thomas Wynne and Griffith Owen came with Penn in the Welcome and found constant occupation in fighting smallpox, measles and yellow fever. Following these two came Dr. John Kearsley and Dr. Thomas Graeme and then that brilliant group-Lloyd Zachary, Thomas Cad- walader, William Shippen, Sr., Thomas and Phineas Bond, John Redman and John Bard, all trained abroad in London, Edinburgh or Leyden. We have learned how John Morgan saw the necessity for better means of study at home and founded the first medical school on the Conti- nent at his Alma Mater, the University of Pennsylvania.
Twenty years after this notable beginning there were enough successful practitioners in Philadelphia to feel a desire for a union through which, by discussion and re- search, they could mutually assist each other in the progress of their profession. The earliest record of their meeting is January 2, 1787, when Dr. John Redman was chosen President and the first Tuesday of every month chosen for regular meetings. Nine senior and four junior fellows were present and the senior fellows were limited to twelve, with no limit on the juniors. Dr. Benjamin Rush read the first scientific paper " On the Means of Promoting Medical Knowledge." The membership for the first year was 29 and the meetings were held in the building of the University
178
THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
in Fourth Street near Arch. The College moved in 1791 to the hall of the American Philosophical Society, where a room was fitted up for their use.
The College was diligent in addresses to the City and State Governments on the public health, and as early as 1793 advocated the cleanliness of the streets as a preventive of disease. It also took a very active part in dealing with the regulation of the practice of physic within the State, the establishment of a quarantine and a hospital for con- tagious diseases.
Thomas Wynne and Griffith Owen were " concerned Friends," the former taking an active part in politics and the latter in preaching. Thomas Graeme and John Kearsley were also active in politics and Kearsley has left us a masterpiece in Christ Church of which he was the architect. He was an able speaker and his eloquent ad- dresses in the Colonial Assembly on the rights of Americans often caused him to be carried home on the shoulders of the people. John Redman, John Bard and Lloyd Zachary studied under Kearsley. The last was a gifted and devoted physician, teacher of students and faithful in his service to the hospital. Associated with him were the Bonds, the younger, Phineas, having studied in London, Paris, Edin- burgh and Leyden. Dr. Thomas Cadwalader studied abroad and became physician, philanthropist and man of affairs. He was a founder of the Library and Hospital, a Provincial Councillor and Trustee of the University. His descendants form a long line of patriots, jurists and dis- tinguished citizens.
Dr. William Shippen was for a long time one of the leading physicians and is thought to have received his early training under one of the Welsh " chirurgeons " brought over by William Penn. He was a modest man and once on
179
EARLY PHILADELPHIA
being congratulated upon his success, remarked, " Nature does a great deal, and the grave covers up our mistakes." Dr. Shippen's son, William, studied abroad and attained much distinction. During the Revolution he was director- general of the Medical Department of the Continental Army from 1777 to 1781.
John Morgan studied abroad after graduation from the College, now the University, and on his return urged upon the Trustees the foundation of a Medical Department. There were several physicians on the Board and the ardent proposal of the young student backed by indorsement from many and exalted sources prevailed and he was elected the first professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic in 1765. His address at the ensuing Commencement acquired much notoriety and his prediction that the example thus set would be copied by other institutions and thus " spread the light of knowledge throughout the whole American continent " has been amply fulfilled. An early associate in the University was Dr. Adam Kuhn, who studied abroad and became Professor of Botany and Materia Medica.
Perhaps the most distinguished of Dr. John Redman's pupils was Benjamin Rush, who also studied under Dr. Shippen and abroad. He brought home a chemical appa- ratus presented to the University by Thomas Penn and a recommendation from him and was unanimously elected to the Chair of Chemistry in 1769. Dr. Rush was an author of prominence and had a talent for public discussion. His oration before the Philosophical Society on the history of medicine among the Indians, with a comparison of their diseases and remedies with those of civilized nations made him famous. The feature of this address was his discussion of the evils of the intemperate use of intoxicating liquors which was the first instance of such a discussion in Phila-
180
THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
delphia. Dr. Rush was a member of the Continental Con- gress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Shortly afterward he became Surgeon-General of the Army for the Middle Department, but his participation in the Conway Cabal for the removal of General Wash- ington soon led to his resignation. Dr. Rush's part in the yellow fever outbreak of 1793 was notable. He adopted a heroic practice which he boldly asserted was of domestic and not foreign origin and it raised loud outcries against him. He kept going day and night during this terrible year, sometimes fainting in the street from exhaustion, yet attending more than a hundred patients in twenty-four hours. His never-forgotten note-book was always at hand and from it he wrote the history of the plague. His death caused universal sorrow, only exceeded, it was thought, by that at the death of Washington. The College of Phy- sicians was established mainly through his influence.
Its first President, Dr. John Redman, has been fre- quently referred to as a teacher of medicine. He began practice in Bermuda after studying with Dr. John Kears- ley and then completed his studies in Edinburgh, Paris, and Leyden. For more than half a century he lived in Second Street near Arch, retiring from active practice many years before his death. In his later years he used to visit his old friends on a fat pony mare which he hitched to the turn- buckle of the mansion shutter, so that she always stood on the foot-pavement. Greatly respected for his learning and good sense he was also notable for his antiquated appearance. He usually wore a broad-skirted dark coat, with long pocket-flaps, buttoned across his under dress, and wearing, in strict conformity to the cut of the coat, a pair of Baron Steuben's military-shaped boots, coming above the knees. " His hat flapped before and cocked up smartly
181
EARLY PHILADELPHIA
behind, covering a full-buttoned powdered wig, in the front of which might be seen an eagle-pointed nose, separating a pair of piercing black eyes, his lips exhibiting, but only now and then, a quick motion, as though at the moment he was endeavouring to extract the essence of a small quid." Thus almost daily he was to be seen on his short, fat, black, switch-tailed mare riding in a brisk rocking canter about the streets.
Dr. Samuel Bard, educated abroad, was selected as Washington's physician in Philadelphia and served faith- fully in the yellow fever outbreak, almost perishing of it himself. Dr. John Jones also attended Washington in Philadelphia, and Franklin, too. He was the first Vice- President of the College of Physicians. Dr. Caspar Wistar and Dr. James Hutchinson were men of influence and note. Both studied abroad and both served the University well.
Dr. Wistar was President of the American Philosophical Society and a gentleman of wide influence and learning. More of him is told in another place. These are some of the early physicians who were interested in the College. William Shippen, Jr., followed Dr. Redman as President, and Dr. Adam Kuhn succeeded him. Like every institu- tion, it had its ups and downs. In 1818 there were but 18 Fellows. In 1820, in answering a request of the municipal authorities for guidance in dealing with an epidemic of a " pestilential disease " a committee composed of Doctors Hewson, Griffitts and Emlen recommended " the prosecu- tion of the plan now in contemplation for removing the whole of the buildings from the east side of Front Street, inclusive, to the river, beginning at Vine and ending at South Street, according to the original plan of William Penn, the wise and intelligent founder of our City." Here was the great plan again, but it was not carried out.
182
THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
In 1827 each Fellow was compelled to read an original paper at each stated meeting and the hour of meeting was changed from the afternoon to the evening at seven from October to March and at eight from April to September. In 1845 the College moved into the building of the Mer- cantile Library Company at the southeast corner of Fifth and Library Streets, where the third floor was occupied. In 1854 another move was made when the " picture house " of the Pennsylvania Hospital was leased. Two years after- ward Dr. Mutter made an offer of his valuable collection of pathological specimens and a sum of $30,000 for a lec- turer and additions provided the collection was placed in a fire-proof building. By diligent effort the College was able to avail itself of the generous offer and in 1863 the building at Thirteenth and Locust Streets was ready for occupation, being then, however, of only two stories. The third story was added in 1883 and the College remained here until 1908, when a handsome new building was erected at Twenty-second and Ludlow Streets.
THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS
DE have already seen how the Quakers gave the first inspiration to the fine arts in the new world when they sent forth young Benjamin West with the sanction and blessing of his Meeting to improve the wonderful gift God had given to him. Charles Wilson Peale, like West, was a Pennsylvanian. After the Revolu- tion portrait-painting was exceedingly fashionable in all American cities and Washington set an example by being painted over and over again. Peale and his fellow artists were kept busy painting Philadelphia's great men, and, above all, her handsome daughters, as noted apparently for their charms as were their English great-grandmothers in the gay days of the second Charles. Peale was a man of extraordinary resource and indefatigable genius. He was a Captain of Volunteers in the Battle of Trenton, a por- trait painter of merit, a saddler, clockmaker, silversmith, glass-moulder, taxidermist, dentist, modeller and engraver. He expressed his reverence for art by naming his six chil- dren Raphael, Rembrandt, Vandyke, Titian, Rubens, and Angelica Kauffman.
In 1791 he began a collection of paintings and sculpture which he later called a Columbianum, and founded a school of art. His associates were William Rush, the wood- carver, and Guiseppe Ceracchi, a Roman sculptor, all of such different and positive natures that they soon dis- banded. Peale then began a collection of rarities in the Philosophical Hall of the State House with a plaster cast of Venus de Medici brought to Philadelphia by Robert Edge Pine, as a nucleus about which was built a class in
184
THE ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS
drawing. Pine was not permitted to keep this statue in his studio where it could be generally seen and the nymph carved by Rush, which is now in Fairmount Park, caused a storm of protest when placed in Centre Square, although amply draped. So we may see the obstacles placed in the path of art by the inconsistent public, whose conceptions of propriety were nevertheless not shocked by the portraits of Philadelphia belles with bosoms unveiled to the careless eyes of men.
Peale finding no one willing to act as a model for the life-class in his school, stood himself and bared his hand- some torso to instruct his ambitious pupils. As an adver- tiser he seems to have adopted modern methods, for he gave a supper party of thirteen within the ribs of a mam- moth skeleton which he had in his museum. All failed together, however, sculpture hall, gallery of paintings and life-class, but the tireless worker and enthusiast, nothing daunted, kept at it and the day after Christmas, 1805, collected the men who were the founders of the oldest insti- tution dedicated to fine arts in the United States. Their charter was granted in 1806 and Peale lived to contribute to seventeen annual exhibitions of the new institution.
Of the 71 signers of the horny brown sheepskin of the compact in the Declaration room of the State House, Joseph Hopkinson, the author of " Hail Columbia," seems to have been the greatest influence for executive and cementing strength. George Clymer was chosen president and William Tilghman, William Rawle, Moses Levy, Joseph Hopkinson, Joseph B. McKean, William Mere- dith, William Rush, John R. Cox, M.D., John Dorsey, William Poyntell, Thomas C. James, M.D., and Charles Wilson Peale, Directors. As President, Mr. Clymer has been succeeded by the following line: Joseph Hopkinson,
185
EARLY PHILADELPHIA
Joseph Dugan, Edward L. Carey, Joseph R. Ingersoll, Henry D. Gilpin, Caleb Cope, James S. Claghorn, George S. Pepper, Edward H. Coates, Henry Whelen and John Frederick Lewis.
The early meetings were held at Judge Hopkinson's house and the first building was at Tenth and Chestnut Streets, designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, a lover of classic architecture, and the designer of the old water works in Centre Square. The appearance of the building was of a simple, impressive Greek style with broad marble steps leading up to a portico whose pediment was supported by a pair of Ionic columns.
Under the direction of Nicholas Biddle, then secretary of legation at Paris, a number of copies of statuary were made and purchased, representing gems collected by Napoleon in his conquests. With these the Academy was formally opened to the public by President Clymer in March, 1806. The collection grew and it became the cus- tom to give or bequeath works of art to it. The casts which Nicholas Biddle sent over from the Louvre models stood the town on end and the managers were obliged to set apart one day in each week for female visitors, when the nude figures were swathed from head to feet in muslin sheets!
In 1812 twenty-one paintings and fifty-two engravings were collected by Joseph Allen Smith, who despatched them from Italy for the Academy in The Marquis de Somernclos, an American ship. She was captured by a British cruiser and taken to Halifax, where a creditable bit of magnanimity was displayed, especially in view of the fact that swarms of American privateers were at that time driving English merchantmen from the sea. The Academy's application to recover its consignment was de-
186
FIRST BUILDING OF THE ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS, CHESTNUT ABOVE TENTH STREET
THE ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS
cided favourably by the Honourable Alexander Croke, LL.D., in a court of Vice-Admiralty at Halifax. It was a handsome piece of justice liberally interpreted and out of all harmony with some of the customs of modern warfare. " Heaven forbid," said Mr. Croke, " that such an applica- tion to the generosity of Great Britain should ever be in- effectual!" He mentions the innumerable cases of the mutual exercise of this courtesy between nations in former wars and "if such cases were unheard of every Briton would be anxious that his country should set the honourable example." He finishes with a compliment to the " very eminent American President of the Royal Academy " in London and confidently foresees a time when England and America " shall know no other enmity than a liberal rivalry in every elegant and manly accomplishment," and then decrees restitution.
West, Peale, Sully and Stuart were represented in the collection when the fire of 1845, attributed to a maniac relative of the janitress, destroyed the Academy's building. The edifice was much injured and although there were many brave acts the more ponderous contents were lost. The volunteer fire companies, as was often the case, damaged more than they saved in their unintelligent zeal. The structure was rebuilt on the old site and after the old design and it served well until the removal to the present site in 1876. After this the building became Fox's Theatre and later was entirely transformed.
In 1886 Fairman Rogers, Professor Schussele and Thomas Eakins established the new school which has be- come so justly famous. In 1890 President Edward H. Coates inaugurated the annual private views and recep- tions, and many of the present generation remember the
187
EARLY PHILADELPHIA
concerts on Thursday afternoons by the Germania Orches- tra under William Stoll which were so popular.
The Academy was the recipient of several notable col- lections of historical American portraits. It contains a noble group of portraits by Gilbert Stuart and an ancestral picture gallery of Philadelphia displaying persons of wit, beauty and genius by Sully, Neagle, Juman, Peale and others.
The annual exhibitions are universally considered the most notable in the country.
THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
WO young men, a chemist and a dentist, called together a few friends in their own walk in life, rented a little room over a little shop, placed in it, with infinite pride, a dozen stuffed birds and a jar or two of reptiles, and met there at night to discuss "the operations of nature," pledging themselves wisely to leave politics and religion entirely out of their debates. From this modest beginning sprang the Phila- delphia Academy of Natural Sciences, the oldest institu- tion of its kind in America, which has diffused knowledge over the eastern states and counted among its members the scholars and scientists of the land. These two young men were John Speakman and Jacob Gilliams, who thought that if their friends could come together at stated times where they would be free from interruption and could discuss what they knew of the natural sciences it would be more pleasant and profitable than desultory talk.
Accordingly, such a meeting was held at Speakman's house at the northwest corner of Second and High Streets on Saturday evening, January 25, 1812, and there were present besides the host, Doctors Gerard Troost and Camillies Macmahon Mann, with Jacob Gilliams, John Shinn, Jr., and Nicholas S. Parmentier. The meeting is described as " a meeting of gentlemen, friends of science and of rational disposure of leisure moments " and it was agreed that the exclusive object of the society should be the cultivation of the natural sciences.
There were not many in the city who cared for this subject and there were no displays to awaken curiosity or libraries to satisfy it had it existed. There were two or
189
EARLY PHILADELPHIA
three collections of minerals belonging to gentlemen who had brought them from Europe, but they were not acces- sible to the public. Those interested in the subject were all busy in making a living during the day and occasional gossip at inns did not help them much in the search for exact knowledge.
In order not to be a burden on Mr. Speakman's hospi- tality the early meetings were held at Mercer's Cake Shop on High Street, near the corner of Franklin Place, and the title, Academy of Natural Sciences, was first used on March 21, 1812. It was suggested by Dr. Samuel Jackson of the University, and at this meeting Thomas Say was included as a founder.
John Speakman was a Friend and his apothecary shop was one of the centres of literary and scientific gossip. Jacob Gilliams was a leading dentist, John Shinn, Jr., a manufacturing chemist, Nicholas S. Parmentier, a dis- tiller of spermaceti oil, Gerard Troost, a manufacturing chemist and the first President of the Academy and Dr. Camillies Macmahon Mann the first Recording Secre- tary. Thomas Say was associated in business with Speak- man and a born naturalist. It was due to his devotion that the Academy was kept alive.
In April a small second-story room in a house on the east side of Second Street, near Race, was rented and the nucleus of the present library and museum formed. Each member gave something and in September the collections were removed to larger quarters on Second Street, north of Arch, then Number 78. The year closed with fourteen members and thirty-three correspondents. The next two years were more prosperous and lectures were given by Mr. Say and Doctors Waterhouse and Barnes.
At the beginning of 1815 the need of increased accom- modations again necessitated a removal and Mr. Gilliams
190
THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
built a hall in the rear of his father's house on the north side of Arch Street east of Second, to which the collections were moved in July. At the instance of Mr. Maclure, the Academy decided to publish a Journal and the first number appeared May 20, 1817.
By 1820 there were one hundred members and one hundred and ninety correspondents on the roll. In 1823 new quarters seemed necessary and in 1826 a building at the southeast corner of Twelfth and Sansom Streets was purchased for $4300. This had been used as a place of worship for Swedenborgians and $1700 was expended to refit it. Prosperity now attended the Academy and it was served by such zealous officers as William Maclure, George Ord, John Price Wetherill, William Hembel, William H. Keating and Dr. Samuel George Morton.
The popularity of the institution again caused a need for more room in 1839 and a lot at the northwest corner of Broad and Sansom was bought and the first meeting held in the new building February 18, 1840. The transfer of the library and collections was accomplished at a cost of $34, the members giving their time and strength to the service so as to save time and expense. The spectacle of the dignified scientific citizens ambling through the streets with the birds and beasts must have been an edifying one!
Soon after this Dr. Joseph Leidy was elected to mem- bership and for 46 years he exerted a potent influence upon the well-being of the institution in all its endeavours.
The next move was to the present location at Nine- teenth and Race Streets in 1868 and the change was com- pleted in 1875. Recent appropriations by the State Legis- lature have provided a modern fire-proof building for the large and valuable collection and library and the publica- tion and lecture departments have now become an equally important part of the Academy's work.
THE PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
N Colonial days every well organized family had its collection of household remedies, consisting largely of plants, and the " herb garden " for the culti- vation of domestic remedies became an established feature. The phy- sicians dispensed their own remedies or directed their preparation at the home of the patient, mainly from such simples as herbs, roots, barks, leaves and flowers. The development of the colonies and the growth of their commerce brought chemists' stores and apothecary shops which sold also paints, dyes, teas, spices and items of use and adornment. The successful medical practi- tioners opened apothecary shops as dispensaries for sup- plying their patients, where the mixing was entrusted to an apprentice or beginner in the study of medicine.
About 1765 Dr. John Morgan, who founded the first Medical School on the Continent at the University in that year, introduced the writing of prescriptions in Philadel- phia and strongly advocated the separation of pharmacy and of surgery from the practice of medicine. He pointed out their different employments and the different talents required by them and showed how each would improve in accuracy and skill if not promiscuously followed by one man.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.