USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > History of Independence Hall : from the earliest period to the present time : embracing biographies of the immortal signers of the Declaration of Independence, with historical sketches of the sacred relics preserved in that sanctuary of American freedom > Part 15
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Republicans of Massachusetts nominated him for Gov- ernor. He was defeated, but the next year, 1810, he was successful. At that time party spirit ran very high between the Federalists and Republicans, the two great political parties of the Union. The more progressive policy of the Republicans was so conso- nant with the spirit of the people, that it increased rapidly from its birth, and finally became so powerful, that Federalism as a watchword of party, and in truth the Federal party, became extinct in 1819. In 1811 Mr. Gerry was nominated for, and elected, Vice-Presi- dent of the United States. In this capacity he served his country until November, 1814, when he was seized with a sudden illness, and died on the 23d of that month. Congress did him the honor to erect a tomb over the spot where his body was buried in the Con- gressional Cemetery.
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CHAPTER XXVI.
BENJAMIN RUSH.
"To the physician of the soul, and these, Turn the distressed for safety and for peace."-Crabbe.
BENJAMIN RUSH, a celebrated Doctor of Medicine at his time, was a native of Philadelphia County, having been born in the little town of Byberry, December 24th, 1745. He was grandson to an officer of some prominence bearing that name in Cromwell's army, who came to this country soon after the death of the Protector, where he acquired a nice little prop- erty and a good reputation. Unfortunately, however, for the subject of this sketch, his father was attacked with a severe indisposition, which baffled the skill of the most erudite medical professors, and died when Benjamin was only about six years of age. This afflictive dispensation placed him and a brother under the maternal guardianship of a fond and doting mother, who exhibited great anxiety to give Benjamin a classical education ; but her income and means would not permit her to do so at the time. Subsequently, she sold her little homestead, removed into Phila- delphia, and with the money then in her possession, she commenced a sort of commercial business which proved very successful. By this turn of fortune she was enabled to consummate her wishes in giving a
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liberal education to her eldest son. When he was only nine years of age, he was placed under the tutilage of Dr. Findlay, who was principal of an Academy at Nottingham, Maryland. Here he ap. plied himself with great earnestness to his studies, and having completed the preliminary courses, in 1759 he entered Princeton College, where, at the age of six- teen, he took his degree.
At an early day young Rush evinced a strong pref- erence for the study and profession of the law, but by the persuasions of his mother, and many warm friends, he consented to the practice of medicine. In due time he placed himself under the tuition of Dr. Red- man, of Philadelphia; and after remaining with him for a year or two, in 1766 he went to England for the purpose of professional improvement. He remained there two years, receiving vast benefits from attending lectures at the best hospitals and medical institutions in London. From London he went to Paris in the summer of 1768, where he obtained additional in- formation and insight into the science of medicine. His stay in Paris, however, was short, for in the autumn of the same year he returned to America, with an honorable diploma conferred on him at Edin- burg, and the title of "Doctor of Medicine."
Soon after his return to Philadelphia he commenced the practice of his profession. His success was the general topic of conversation ; and so rapidly did his reputation increase, that before he had completed one year, the most distinguished physicians of the city invited him to consultations with them. There was a calm suavity about him, a polished and dignified manner, which, together with his superior intellect,
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kind deportment to the sick, and unwcaried attention to the calls of the poor, created for him a popularity that few practitioners enjoyed. A man possessing these characteristics, of course, could not fail to make for himself an extensive and lucrative practice. Dr. Rush, besides attending to the calls of the sick, and other duties incident to his profession, took great de- light in imparting to others necessary information re- specting the medical profession ; and for this purpose, instituted lectures, which were attended by students from all parts of the country, after the Revolutionary war had closed. They came even from the Old World; and in 1812, the year preceding his death, he had four hundred and thirty pupils who attended his lectures. For nine years previous to his demise, the number of his private pupils exceeded fifty annu- ally. It is computed that he instructed during his life-time more than two thousand pupils. This fact, alone, is sufficient to impress the public mind with an idea of his superiority in the medical profession. No one stood higher than he in Philadelphia among men of his class-no one was more successful-no one was more highly esteemed; and none could command greater respect. In his profession he was a pattern for emulation.
On his return to his native country, he found con- siderable feeling existing antagonistic to the oppressive · measures pursued by Great Britain toward the Colo- nies, and it did not take him long to decide which side of the discussion to espouse. Consequently, his pen, as well as his personal exertions, contributed no small share in arousing the people to action, and of intensifying the feelings of the patriots for Freedom
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and Independence. Although urgently solicited to take a seat in the Congress of 1775, he declined the honor. . But the next year, when some of the Penn- sylvania delegates proved traitors to their constitu- ents, and refused to vote for Independence, he was elected to fill one of the seats made vacant by their withdrawal, and he accepted it. When the Declara- tion of Independence was adopted, Dr. Rush was not a member, but he was present, and signed it on the second day of August following. He was appointed to the office of Physician-General of the Military Hos- pitals of the Middle Department, by Congress, in which his services were found of great utility. After that appointment he did not serve again in Congress. He took very little interest in political measures, and with the exception of being a member of the Con- vention that adopted the Federal Constitution, he did not actively participate in any public duties. In 1778 he was appointed President of the Mint, which position he held fourteen years. Although, as a statesman, the services of Dr. Rush were eminently useful, still his virtues excelled in the medical pro- fession ; and as a practitioner and medical writer, he is more popularly known. In 1779 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of Philadelphia-in 1789 he was made Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine; and at that time he also held the Professorship of the Institutes of Medi- cine and of Chemical Science, in the Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1796 he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Kuhn, in the Professorship of the Practice of Medicine.
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These three Professorships he held during his life, and discharged their duties with honor.
The citizens of Philadelphia well remember that, in 1793, that dreadful scourge of the human race- the yellow fever-swept like the wings of the angel of death, over that fair city, carrying hundreds and thousands of its inhabitants to the grave, So direful was its progress, and so alarming its effects, that a universal panic ensued. Physicians of long standing and high reputations deserted their patients, and left them to grapple with the fell destroyer as best they might. But then it was that the humanity and phi- lanthropy of Dr. Rush were made manifest. He re- solved to remain, and prevailed upon a few of his pupils to follow his example. They did so. He him- self was attacked by the disease, and some of his pupils died; but while he could get from his bed, he was vigilant in attending to the sick and dying .* This self-sacrificing devotion to the interests and wel- fare of the community, placed the citizens of Phila- delphia under lasting gratitude to him.
There are many instances and institutions which bear the impress of Dr. Rush's superior mind and un- tiring energies. In 1786 he formed the Philadelphia Dispensary, and he was one of the principal founders of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Ile
* He appealed to his pupils to remain thus : " As for myself, I am determined to remain. I may fall a victim to the epi- demic, and so may you, gentlemen. But I prefer, since I am placed here by Divine Providence, to fall in performing my duty, if such must be the consequence of my staying upon the ground, than to secure my life by fleeing from the post of duty allotted in the Providence of God. I will remain, if I remain alonc."
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was firm and inflexible in his patriotic attachment- in his profession, skillful, candid, and honorable. He was a profound thinker-a vigorous writer-a zealous and consistent Christian-and was beloved by all. It is said of him that, "in all his close and arduous pursuit of human knowledge, he never neglected to search the Scriptures for that knowledge which points the soul aright in its journey to the Spirit Land." But in the prosecution of his various duties, the sands of his own existence dropped one by one into the vast urn of eternity, and it began to be manifest that he too must soon pay the debt of nature. Anxious friends gathered around him-the public mind was greatly affected-and his house was regularly be- sieged by a host of admiring citizens inquiring con- cerning his health. Yet all their efforts and deep anxiety could avail nothing. His disease rendered him weaker and weaker, until the 19th of April, 1813, when the lamp of his existence went out in the dark- ness of death, leaving every citizen to feel that with him a strong man in Israel had fallen, and the loss would be irreparable.
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CHAPTER XXVII.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
"Such was the rigid Zeno's plan To form his philosophic man- Such were the modes he taught mankind To weed the garden of the mind."-Moore.
THE subject of this sketch needs no eulogy, no sketching from my pen. His fame, like that of the immortal Washington, will never cease to be honored in the land he assisted to free from the chains of bond- age. A brief outline of his biography, however, is in order. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the seventeenth day of January, 1706. His father was a true and uncompromising Puritan, who came to this country in 1682, and soon after married a Miss Folger, a native of the city of Boston. The life-occupation of Mr. Franklin was that of a soap-boiler and tallow- chandler, a business he devoted himself to in conse- quence of not having any mechanical trade, and not understanding the duties of a farmer. This occupa- tion gave him a comfortable livelihood, although it did not permit the education of Benjamin in the call- ing they desired-that of the ministry-and conse- quently that project was abandoned. He was kept in a common-school a year or two, and then entered into the service of his father. This occupation did not
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please Benjamin, and his parents seeing the aversion he exhibited, secured for him a place with a cutler, and he was taken on probation. At that time there was a bonus on apprentices, which they had to pay for admission, and the fee being too high he could not pay it from the limited means of his parents, and he was therefore obliged to abandon that also. He then was put under instructions to an elder brother, who was a printer. In his office were laid the first prin- ciples of that course of character which subsequently rendered Benjamin such a philosopher and model of patriotism. He remained with his brother until he became exceedingly proficient. Every moment of his leisure time was devoted to study. He never engaged in light and frivolous amusements. So rapidly did his young faculties develop, that a spirit of jealousy began to manifest itself in the conduct of his brother toward him, which young Franklin perceiving, left his service, and went to New York. He could not find employment in that city, and he proceeded on foot to Philadelphia. On his arrival at Burlington, in New Jersey, late on Saturday evening, he took passage in a row-boat for Philadelphia, and during the night a dense fog arose on the river. The men could not see their way, and about daylight their boat ran ashore at the mouth of Cooper's Creek, near the city of Camden. Here Franklin left the boat and walked down to Cooper's Ferry, where he crossed over to the city. This was on Sunday morning, and weary and hungry, he rested himself awhile in the market-house, then purchased two loaves of bread, and placing one under his arm, while eating the other, he strolled up Market street. It was at this time that he passed the 20*
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house of Mr. Reed, whose daughter was so struck with his singular appearance, that she sneered and ridiculed him in his hearing, but who afterward be- came his wife. Franklin kept on until he came to a Quaker meeting, which he entered, eating his bread. There he sat down, went to sleep, and did not awake until services closed, and then he sought other accom- modations. He was then only seventeen, friendless and alone, and had but a single dollar in his pocket. There were but two printing establishments in Phila- delphia at that time, but he soon obtained a situation in one of them. His industrious and studious habits won the esteem of his employers, and he became a favorite with all the workmen.
Governor Keith of Delaware became deeply inter- ested in young Franklin, and offered to extend to him his patronage, and assist in setting him up in business for himself, if he so desired. Arrangements were en- tered into, and it was found necessary for Franklin to go to England for material. On arriving in London he found that William Keith's patronage was not of that character he supposed it to be, and he was obliged to seek journeyman's work in order to relieve his em- barrassment. He went into one of the printing-offices and asked for a situation, and on intimating that he had come from America, his application was greeted with the sneering remark referred to in the anecdote concerning him. He went to a case, picked up a stick, and set up-"Can any thing good come out of Naza- reth ? Come and see." This circumstance prepos- sessed the proprietor in his favor, and he gave him employment. He preserved a strict course of integrity, and soon earned enough to make him comfortable.
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By this conduct he surrounded himself with numerous friends, and while he labored hard at the press," he did not fail to store his mind with important knowl- edge. Unfortunately, however, for Franklin, he was thrown in the way of some stern infidels, among the number was Lord Mandeville. They paid marked and flattering respect to him, and his mind became considerably tinctured with their doctrines. He was persuaded by them to write a pamphlet on deistical metaphysics, a performance which he subsequently deeply regretted and condemned.
Having now some money on hand, Franklin re- solved to return to the Continent, and accepted the clerkship of a mercantile friend who was then ready to sail for America, He embarked for home in July, 1726, and in due time arrived in Philadelphia. There he was again among his friends, and with his new em- ployer he had a good prospect of accumulating wealth, but his friend died not long after his arrival, and Franklin went again to the printing business with his old employer. A little while afterward he formed a partnership, and went into the business himself. His punctuality, uprightness, and industrious habits, soon brought around him warm friends, public confidence, and a good business. In 1730 he married the lady referred to elsewhere in this biography. He had asked her hand before going to England, but she mar- ried another. While he was absent, however, her husband died, and on his return their intimacy was renewed, and they were married Franklin began his
* The very press that Franklin used to work in London, is now in the National Museum at Washington, and creates no little curiosity among printers and others who visit that city.
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useful annual, known as "Poor Richard's Almanac," in 1732, which was continued until 1757. Cotempo- raneously he published a paper, which was one of the most influential of any in the Colonies. He also pro- jected a literary club called the "Junto ;" many of the books they collected formed the nucleus of the present Philadelphia Library. He was appointed Government printer in 1734, and in 1736 he was made Clerk of the General Assembly. He was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737. These positions gave him ample means, and relieved him from the embarrass- ments and drudgery to which he had all his life been subjected, and left him an opportunity to pursue phil- osophical studies. He instituted fire companies in Philadelphia, the first on the Continent, and devised means for paving the streets and lighting the city with gas. He took an interest in the military-pro- jected the "American Philosophical Society," the "Pennsylvania Hospital," and the "Pennsylvania Uni- versity." He established the "General Magazine and Historical Chronicle, for the British Plantations," in 1741. In 1744 he was elected a member of the Gen- eral Assembly, to which position he was re-elected for ten years consecutively. During this time his mind was busy in exploring scientific subjects, and he made many of those inventions which afterward rendered his name so famous among the literati and scientific.
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. He was appointed a commissioner, in 1753, to treat with the Indians at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 1754 he was a delegate to a Convention of Representatives, that met at Albany, to consult upon the general de- fense and security against the French. He there pro- posed a confederation of the several Colonies, but his
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plan was rejected both by the Home Government and by the Colonies. His proposition contained all the essential features of the present Constitution of the United States. About this time he became Post- master-General. He rendered General Braddock es- sential service in securing recruits and material for his expedition against Fort Du Quesne.
The General Assembly of the Province, in 1757, sent Franklin to London to adjust a dispute with the Governor. He was successful. He remained in En- gland five years as a resident agent for the Colony. He was publicly thanked, on his return home, by the General Assembly, which presented him the sum of $20,000 as compensation. In 1764 he was again sent to England on a similar service. While he was there the "Stamp Act" was passed, and he pertinaciously protested against it. His opinions had great weight there, and the eyes of many great statesmen were fixed upon him. He saw the storm of the Revolution darkly gathering, and he used every measure within his power to avert the threatening tempest. But his efforts at conciliation proved unavailing, and satisfied that war was inevitable, in 1775 he returned home to prepare for the general conflict. He was immediately elected a delegate to Congress, and the next year, 1776, he was re-elected. He was placed upon the committee appointed to draft a " Declaration of Inde- pendence"-he voted for its adoption, and signed it on the second of August of the same year. A propo- sition of reconciliation had been made, and Franklin was chosen one of the three commissioners to meet Lord Howe in conference on Staten Island. This attempt proved unavailing, and hostilities commenced.
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Franklin was the President of the Convention that framed a State Constitution for Pennsylvania. During the same year he was deputized by Congress, and sent as a Commissioner to the Court of France, for the purpose of forming a treaty of alliance. Franklin was then more than seventy years of age, yet he accepted the commission, and sailed in October of 1776. He was received with great deference, and finally suc- ceeded in accomplishing his mission. A treaty was concluded and signed by Franklin and the French Minister, in February, 1778 .* So great was the con- fidence Congress placed in him, that it gave him almost unlimited discretionary powers. He discharged his duties with such fidelity and skill, that he excited the admiration of Europe. At length Great Britain was conquered, and consented to form a treaty, making the independence of the country its basis; and on the third day of September, 1783, Doctor Franklin had the glorious satisfaction of signing a definitive treaty to that effect. Then did the bosom of this old Nestor of patriots swell with national pride, and emotions of irrepressible patriotism took possession of his soul. Then it was that, true to a former pledge, he put on the suit of clothes which, ten years before, on the occa- sion of his being insulted before the English Privy Council, he declared he would never wear again until he had " signed England's degradation and America's independence."
Having accomplished so much, Franklin requested Congress to permit him to return home, but he re-
* America was declared independent, and the French Govern- ment openly espoused the cause of the Colonists.
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mained until Thomas Jefferson, his successor, arrived in 1785. He was received with great demonstrations of joy by the entire country ; and even at the age of eighty years, he was appointed President of Pennsyl- vania, and held the position three years. The last public act, however, which he performed, was to act as a member of the Convention that framed our present National Constitution. Death put an end to his existence on the seventeenth of April, 1790, at the advanced age of eighty-four years .* Not only the
* Franklin had two children, a son and daughter. His daughter married Mr. Bache of Philadelphia. His son William was a firm opponent of his father, and was from the first to the last a devoted loyalist. Before the Revolutionary war he held several civil and military offices of importance. At the com- mencement of the war he held the office of Governor of New Jersey, which appointment he received in 1775. When the difficulty between the mother country and the Colonies was coming to a crisis, he threw his whole influence in favor of loyalty, and endeavored to prevent the Legislative Assembly of New Jersey from sustaining the proceedings of the General Congress at Philadelphia. These efforts, however, did but little to stay the tide of popular sentiment in favor of resistance to tyranny, and soon involved him in difficulty. He was deposed from office by the Whigs, to give place to Wm. Livingston, and sent a prisoner to Connecticut, where he remained two years in East Windsor, in the house of Capt. Ebenezer Grant, where the Theological Seminary now stands. In 1778 he was exchanged, and soon after went to England. There he spent the remainder of his life, receiving a pension from the British Government for his fidelity. He died in 1813, at the age of eighty-two. As might have been expected, his opposition to the cause of liberty, so dear to the heart of his father, produced an estrangement be- tween them. For years they had no intercourse-when, in 1784, the son wrote the father ; in his reply, Dr. Franklin says : "Nothing has ever hurt me so much, and affected me with such deep sensations, as to find myself deserted in my old age by
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people of this country, but of England and France also, mourned the loss of such a great man. In all bis traits of character, Franklin was a patriot, a scholar, and worthy of emulation. It was said of him that " his genius drew the lightning from heaven"-it could just as appropriately be said of his intellectual fac- ulties: Της φύσεως γραμματεύς ην, τον καλαμον αποβρεξόν εις νουν .* His mind is stamped upon all his works, and leaves a burning impression upon his readers; and no more strikingly is this fact illustrated than in the following anecdote of him in reference to lending money. In reply to an application for the loan of ten louis-d'ors, he said: "I send you, herewith, a bill of ten louis- d'ors. I do not pretend to give much, I only lend it to you. When you return to your country you can- not fail of getting into some business that will, in time, enable you to pay all your debts. In this case, when you meet another honest man, in similar distress, you will pay me by lending this money to him, enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and meet with such another oppor- tunity. I hope it may pass through many hands before
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