(George (Uljegne Sljattuck. A 
BRIEF SKETCH 
OF THE LIFE OF 
Prof. GEORGE CHEYNE SHATTUCK, 
H. U. 1831. 
BY 
CALEB DAVIS BRADLEE, D.D. 
H.U. 1852. 
BOSTON: 
PRIVATELY PRINTED. 
1 8 9 4. Reprinted from the New-England Historical and Genealogical Register for July, 1894. GEORGE CHEYNE SHATTUCK, M.D. 
In writing a brief sketch of the life of George Cheyne Shattuck, 
M.D., for the New-England Historical and Genealogical 
Register (with the hope of writing a larger notice at a later date), 
I am embarrassed at the beginning by two thoughts. First, as to 
whether I am not too nearly related to the subject of my memoir to do 
fidl justice to his merits, as we are told that those near to a mountain 
cannot clearly describe it; and secondly, whether I am not too well 
acquainted with the merits of my friend, so as to be liable to be 
charged with exaggeration by those who did not know him, for 
certainly after a study of his character for over thirty years, I have 
not been able to discover in it any rough edges whatsoever, for he 
seemed to me to reach, as nearly as any human being possibly 
could, the highest standard of moral and spiritual growth. 
George Cheyne Shattuck was born in Boston, Mass., July 22d, 
1813. He was the son of Dr. George Cheyne and Eliza (Cheever) 
Shattuck, and grandson on his mother's side of Hon. Caleb Davis, 
all of Boston. 
The father of young Shattuck was a man thoroughly steeped in 
benevolence, and he tried always to give where two parties would 
be helped at the same time. He once subscribed to a large number 
of dictionaries in order to help the poor author, and then gave the 
books to needy students that they might get aid in their studies. 
A poor student went to him for medical advice, and he asked for 
his pay only one favor, viz., that the student would deliver a note 
for him at a certain store on Washington street. The young man, 
to his great astonishment, found when he delivered the note that it 
was an order to the tailor for a whole suit of clothes for his benefit. 4 
The mother of the boy was also exceedingly generous, and I was 
informed by one of her friends that she would give anything away 
that she thought any other person needed more than she did. 
So the young boy came into the world enveloped by charity, and 
his own nature was richly in accord with the royal beneficence that 
surrounded him. Previous to his entrance into Harvard College he 
attended a grammar school in Boston, and at the age of nine en- 
tered the Latin school, where he remained for three years, and was 
then sent to the " Bound Hill School," Northampton, that was under 
the care of Dr. Cogswell. It was at the "Round Hill School" 
where he probably obtained that thorough idea of education, moral, 
physical and spiritual, that led him afterwards to become the founder 
of St. Paul's school, Concord, New Hampshire. 
In the early part of his life his love for study was perhaps some- 
what over-stimulated by a kind but exacting father, who, on days 
that were given by the school especially for rest and recreation, 
insisted that his son should have private teachers, so that there was 
hardly a pause from constant study till the time he entered college, 
but it was a touching sight to behold the complete obedience of the 
child, and his patient and loving self-surrender. 
He entered college in 1827, receiving his A.B. in 1831 ; amongst 
his classmates, well known to all, were Francis Gardner, John 
Hopkins Morison, John Lothrop Motley, Nathaniel Bradstreet 
Shurtleff, Wendell Phillips and many others. 
It was his desire, I think, from earliest youth to enter the medical 
school at graduation, whilst it was his father's wish to prevent him 
from doing so, as undoubtedly he thought his physical strength 
would not be equal to the demand made upon the profession of a 
physician, and, in the spirit of the perfect obedience that he had 
always exhibited, he entered the law school, where he remained one 
year, a perfect martyr to his fidelity, when the father, deeming any 
further opposition unwise, allowed him to follow his own course, so 
.that he received his degree of M.D. in 1835. Almost all of his pro- 
fessional life was spent as an instructor. He visited Europe several 
times for rest and study, and always returned refreshed and in- 
vigorated both in mind and body. 5 
April 9th, 1840, he married Miss Anne Henrietta Brune of 
Baltimore, Maryland, who was the daughter of Fredk. William and 
Anne (Clarke) Brune. 
For nearly twenty years he was a professor in the Harvard Medical 
School; professor of Clinical Medicine, 1855-1859, and professor 
of the Theory and Practice of Medicine, 1859-1873. For a large 
number of these years he was the Dean of the Medical Faculty, 
and those who know all about his unruffled patience, his wise judg- 
ment, and his courteous manner can clearly conceive how well he 
must have filled such an office, and what respect and affection he must 
have secured for himself. 
For thirty-six years he was one of the visiting physicians of the 
Massachusetts General Hospital. He was also president of the 
Massachusetts Medical Society, 1872-1874. He was a Fellow of 
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the American 
Statistical Society. He was a member of the New-England His- 
toric Genealogical Society. He gave medical instruction by lectures 
in St. James College, Maryland, and in Trinity College, Con- 
necticut, and positively would not receive any compensation either 
for his instruction or his expenses. 
Soon after his marriage he changed his church relations, as a. 
Unitarian, and became an ardent Episcopalian, devoting his life 
and strength and means to the building up of that Church. 
To the Church of the Advent, where he worshipped, and of 
which he was one of the earliest friends, he made large donations 
every week, and at one time his gift was twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars. 
He was also the founder of St. Paul's School, Concord, as we 
have intimated, and to this institution he gave during his life one 
hundred thousand dollars or more, and, what is better, gave his 
time and his advice, and very frequently his presence and medical 
help. 
He gave very largely to a school in Minnesota that bears his 
name. 
" He was," says Dr. Eliot, " a member of almost every society 
board in his diocese, a delegate to every diocesan and every general 6 
convention, a Trustee of the General Theological Seminary, and of 
other bodies beyond the diocese." 
It is said that at one time he thought of studying for the minis- 
try, but instead of doing so he became the foremost layman in the 
Church, and we might say the leading layman of all churches of 
whatever name, for his mind was broad, his sympathies were great, 
his love was widespread, and whilst theologically he might perhaps 
be classed as the most strict of Episcopalians, his heart was greater 
than his creed, and all true Christians received from him a holy 
welcome. 
It is something very remarkable that notwithstanding his busy 
]ife as physician, as teacher, and churchman, he was most delightful 
in his conversation, full of good humor, and a host whose hospitality 
was unbounded. His spiritual, mental and social nature seemed to 
be beautifully blended, so that on whatever side you looked he 
seemed especially great on that side, and yet, with all this real 
greatness he was one of the most modest and most unassuming of men, 
giving of necessity some of his charities publicly, but giving quietly 
and unostentatiously large sums of money known only to the re- 
cipient and himself, and recorded in the "Great Book of God." 
On March 22d, 1893, he passed away to God; his wife, his lov- 
ing and faithful companion for many happy and holy years, follow- 
ing him soon afterwards, January 6th, 1894. Two sons, a daughter, 
and grandchildren survive our departed friend, to whom he never 
gave an hour of pain nor a moment of regret till he left them bereft 
of his presence, his counsel and his help. About two weeks before 
he fell asleep I had the privilege of sitting by him, and of listening 
to his genial words. I beheld a composure the most complete, a 
resignation not to be surpassed; and the true Christian hero was 
wonderfully and sweetly revealed. 
What a life, what a death, and how grand must have been the 
entrance into the other life, and what a legacy our friend has left 
for the uplifting of our souls. 
Peace be to his ashes ! 
Sacred be our memory of him I Joyful the thought that we shall 
meet him again in God's holy City !