NEW YORK HOSPITAL 
BIOGRAPHICAL GATALOGUE... OF PROTRAITS 
OF FORMERS GOVERNORS AND ATTENDING 
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS...N.Y.HOSPITAL BIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE 
DESCRIPTIVE OF THE 
PORTRAITS 
OF 
FOEMEE GOYEEXOES 
AND 
ATTENDING PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS 
OP THE 
NEW YORK HOSPITAL. 
PRINTED BY THE NEW YORK PRINTING COMPANY 
NEW YORK: 
81, 83, AND 85 Centre Street. 
1869. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 
1. MATTHEW CLARKSON was elected a Governor in 
1792, and resigned in 1822, holding office for thirty years. 
From 1799 to 1822, a period of 23 years, he was President of 
the Board, having previously served two years as Vice- 
President. 
2. THOMAS EDDY was one of the early Governors of the 
Hospital, having been elected in 1793; he continued in office 
until the period of his decease, in 1827. In 1818 he was elect- 
ed Vice-President, and in 1822 was chosen President of the 
Board, which office he held five years. From 1808 to 1818 
he acted as Treasurer of the Institution ; was twice elected 
Secretary, serving in this capacity eleven years. 
Mr. Eddy took a lively interest in all that appertained to 
the Hospital, and for 34 years was an active and efficient 
member of the Society. Chiefly through his influence, the 
“ Bloomingdale Asylum for the Insane ”—a branch of the 
Hew York Hospital—was founded, and his wisdom in thus 
making early provision for this unfortunate class of the com- 
munity has been made manifest by the success which has 
attended the management of that excellent institution. 
3. PETER A- JAY was a Governor of the Hospital 
twenty-four years, serving from 1809 to 1838, From 1822 
to 1827 he was Vice-President of the Board, and from this 
latter year to 1833 he was the presiding officer, declining 
further service on account of the feeble state of his health. 4 
Mr. Jay was a kind-hearted and amiable gentleman, and 
his intercourse with those who were connected with the In- 
stitution was characterized by gentleness of manner and 
great courtesy. 
4. GEORGE NEWBOLD, Esq., was elected a Governor 
in the year 1808 ; in 1810 he resigned, and was re-elected in 
1811, After serving the Institution for a period of twenty- 
two years, he was elected President of the Board, which office 
he held until October, 1857, when declining health forced him 
to resign as Governor, to the great regret of those who had 
been long associated with him. 
For over 49 years he manifested a lively interest in the 
success and welfare of the Hospital, and its branch, the Bloom- 
ingdale Asylum. 
5. JOHN ADAMS, Esq., received his appointment as 
Governor in 1818, and resigned in 1854 ; for this long period 
of 36 years he was the faithful custodian of the funds of the 
Hospital, and was prompt in the discharge of his important 
duties. 
6. ROBERT I. MURRAY, Esq., received the appoint- 
ment of Governor in 1816, and in 1824 was chosen Secretary, 
which office he filled with singular fidelity until the year 1858, 
—thirty-four years,—when death removed him from his sphere 
of usefulness. During the long period of his official career 
Mr, Murray was seldom absent from his post, and the records 
of the Institution bear witness to the faithful manner in which 
he discharged his duties. 
7. JOHN EOTHERGILL, M.D., an eminent London 
physician, is mentioned in the charter as one of the original 
members of the Corporation known as the “ Society of the New 
York Hospital.” He was appointed to this office by George 
the Third, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. 5 
Dr. Fothergill was born March, 1712 ; and in 1736 he took 
the degree of Doctor of Medicine in the University of Edin- 
burgh. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and 
through their influence and exertions he was soon introduced 
into business. He was one of the earliest members of the 
American Philosophical Society, instituted at Philadelphia. 
He died on the 26th December, 1780. 
8. SAMUEL BARD, M.D., was born in Philadelphia, 
1742. He prosecuted the study of medicine under the auspi- 
ces of his father, Dr. John Bard ; he likewise attended lectures 
in London and Edinburgh, at which latter city he graduated 
in 1765. Returning to New York, he commenced practice with 
his father, and in 1768 was instrumental in founding the first 
medical school in this city, himself occupying the chair of 
Theory and Practice. At the first commencement of this 
school, Dr. Bard delivered the address to the graduates, in 
which he urged the necessity of a hospital, to be located in 
the city of New York. Immediate steps were taken to fur- 
ther this measure, funds were liberally subscribed, and in 
1771 the charter for the “New York Hospital” was obtained. 
9. SAMUEL LATHAM MITCHILL, M.D., was born 
on Long Island in 1704. He began the study of medicine 
with Dr. Latham, but, removing to the city of New York in 
1780, he became a pupil of Dr. Samuel Bard, with whom he 
continued three years. He afterwards went to Scotland, and 
availed himself of the advantages held out by the University 
of Edinburgh. Not long after his return from Edinburgh, 
he was appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Medical 
Faculty of Columbia College. 
In 1796 he was elected one of the Attending Physicians 
of this Hospital, and served as such until 1817—twenty-one 
years 
He was a man of .great and varied abilities. 
10. WRIGHT POST, M.D., was born at Horth Hemp- 6 
stead, L.I., 1766, and at the early age of fifteen began the 
study of medicine with Dr. Richard Bailey. At the age of 
nineteen he set sail for Europe, there to prosecute his studies 
under more favorable circumstances. On his return from Eu- 
rope he delivered lectures on anatomy in this Hospital, which, 
however, were soon arrested by the occurrence of a “ Doc- 
tors’ Mob,” occasioned by the careless exposure, by some 
students, of sundry anatomical specimens. From 1792 to 
1821, he was one of the Attending Surgeons of this Hospital, 
and here he performed some of his greatest surgical opera- 
tions. From 1821 to 1828 he was Consulting Surgeon, He 
died in office, after serving the Institution most faithfully and 
beneficially for thirty-six years. 
11. VALENTINE MOTT, M.D., son of Dr. Henry Mott, 
was born at Glen Cove, Long; Island, August 20tb, 1785. 
After finishing his classical studies in Columbia College, he en- 
tered upon the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Valentine 
Seaman. In 1806 he visited Europe, and in the great hospi- 
tals of London and Edinburgh he prosecuted his medical 
studies with much zeal. On his return to this city, at the 
early age of 24, he was elected to the chair of Surgery in 
King’s—afterwards Columbia—College, remaining there till 
1813; subsequent to this period he occupied the chair of 
Surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 
In 1826, he, with Drs. Ilosack, Mitchill, Francis, and others, 
founded Rutgers Medical College; when tins institution ceased 
to exist, he again returned to the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons; for some years, and until removed by death, he 
taught in the Medical Department of the University of New 
York. 
In 1817 he was elected one of the Attending Surgeons of 
the New York Hospital, in which Institution he performed 
some of his most brilliant and bold operations, which laid 
the foundation of his future fame. Having served the Hospi- 
tal as Attending Surgeon for twenty years, in connection with 
Dr. A. H. Stevens, he resigned his post, but was immediately 7 
elected Consulting Surgeon, which office he held to the hour 
of his death. On the 17th of November, 1864, he aid a 
brief and final visit to the Hospital on behalf of his particular 
friend, Surrogate Tucker; at that time he seemed to be in good 
health. 
Dr. M. was an Honorary Member of many of the learned 
societies in Europe, as well as in this country. He died April 
26th, 1865, after a short illness, in the eightieth year of his 
age. His portrait was painted by Inman, at the request of 
some of his pupils, and by them presented to the Hospital. 
12. ALEXANDER H. STEVENS, M.D., was born in 
New York, 1789 ; his medical studies were pursued in the 
office of Dr Edward Miller, an eminent and greatly esteemed 
physician. In March, 1815, he was appointed as surgical dres- 
ser in the New York Hospital, and subsequently served as 
House Surgeon for the space of one year. Having returned 
from a visit to Europe, he settled in this city and at once en- 
tered upon his arduous duties, which, during a long series of 
years, he continued to discharge with great fidelity and success. 
As Professor of Surgery in the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons, his lectures were attended by large and attentive 
classes. 
In 1817, he was chosen one of the Attending Surgeons of the 
New York Hospital, the duties of which he continued to dis- 
charge with great fidelity until 1839, when he resigned. He 
was afterwards appointed Consulting Surgeon, and continued 
to hold this position until 1869. As a clinical teacher he 
was unsurpassed, his remarks being eminently practical and 
impressive. His portrait was painted by the late Mr. Inman, 
at the request of some of his pupils, and by them was pre- 
sented to the Hospital. He died in office, March 30th, 1869, 
aged eighty years. 
13. JOHN KEARNY RODGERS, M.D., was born in 
the city of New York, October 18th, 1793 ; lie was the eldest 
son of Dr. John R. B. Rodgers. After completing his collegiate 8 
studies at Nassau Hall, Princeton, N. J., in 1811 he entered 
the office of the late Dr. Wright Post, and in March 1816, he 
received the degree of M.D. from the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons of the University of the State of New York. 
In 1815 he was appointed one of the Assistants on the house 
surgical staff of the New York Hospital, and after finishing 
his tour of duty in this excellent Institution, he took his de- 
parture for Europe. On his return, in 1818, he became Dr. 
Post’s Demonstrator of Anatomy, and in 1820 was one of 
the founders of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. In 
1822 he was elected one of the Attending Surgeons of this 
Hospital, a position which he filled with great credit to him- 
self and benefit to the Institution, He died in office, in 1851, 
having served the hospital 29 years. 
14. JOHN C. CHEESMAN, M.D., was a pupil in the 
office of Dr. Valentine Seaman. In 1810 he was appointed a 
surgical dresser in this Hospital, and in 1821 was elected At- 
tending Surgeon. In 1856 lie resigned his office, having been 
on active duty 35 years. lie was subsequently elected Con- 
sulting Surgeon, continuing to discharge his duties as such 
until his death, in the winter of 1862. 
15. T. U. JOHNSTON, M.D., a native of this State, 
pursued his medical studies in the office of Dr. David Hosack. 
In 1818 he was appointed junior assistant on the medical staff 
of this Hospital, serving through the higher grades. lie was 
elected an Attending Physician in 1828, and after serving 
twenty years with signal ability and success, he resigned. 
He was afterwards elected Consulting Physician. He died in 
office, in 1858. As a physician he was eminently practical, 
and was highly esteemed by his professional brethren. 
16. JOSEPH M. SMITH, M.D., was born March 14th, 
1789, at New Rochelle, State of New York. In 1808 he began 
the study of medicine in the office of his father, who was a pro- 9 
minent physician in that town. In 1811 he was licensed to 
practise by the Medical Society of Westchester County, and 
in 1815 he graduated from the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons of this city. In 1829 he was elected one of the At- 
tending Physicians of this Hospital, and for thirty-seven years 
he continued to discharge with the greatest fidelity and 
punctuality the responsible duties of that office. As Profes- 
sor of Clinical Medicine in the College of Physicians and 
Surgeons, he enjoyed in this Hospital ample opportunities of 
giving bedside instruction to the large classes of students 
who formerly attended for that purpose, and who derived 
much practical knowledge from his lectures. 
To medical literature he contributed many valuable papers, 
which will long be looked upon as monuments of his industry, 
ability, and great devotion to the advancement of medical 
science and medical learning. 
17. JOHN A. SWETT, M.D., was born in Boston, in 
ISO'S. His collegiate studies were pursued in Harvard Univer- 
sity ; his medical studies were followed in the office of Dr. Jacob 
Bigelow. In 1831 he graduated from Harvard Medical 
School, and shortly afterwards he moved to this city. In 
May, 1835, he sailed for Europe, to prosecute his studies in 
foreign schools and hospitals, and on his return he commenced 
practice in this city, devoting his attention chiefly to diseases 
of the chest. In 1842 he was elected one of the Attending 
Physicians of this Hospital, served as such for 12 years, dying 
in office, in 1854. Dr. Swett was distinguished for accuracy 
of observation and careful investigation of disease. 
His portrait was presented to the Hospital by his friends. 
18. DAVID HOSACK, M.D., was born in this city, Au- 
gust 31st, 1769. After completing the ordinary education of 
childhood and youth, he entered, in 1786, the Freshman class 
of Columbia College, remaining, however, only until the half 
of the Junior year. In May, 1788, he became a private pupil 
of the late Dr. Diehard Bay ley, an eminent practitioner of 10 
this city ; but being desirous of finishing his collegiate course, 
he entered the senior class of Princeton College, from which 
institution he graduated in 1789. Returning to New York, 
he resumed his medical studies, attending the lectures of Drs. 
Wright Post, Bard, and others; and in 1790 removed to 
Philadelphia, to secure the advantages of medical instruction 
which that city afforded. The degree of M.D. was conferred 
upon him by the University of Pennsylvania, having first 
defended an inaugural dissertation on Cholera-Morbus. 
After a brief sojourn in Princeton, he, by the advice of Rush 
and others, removed to Alexandria, Ya., where he remained 
about a year, and then came to New York. In August, 1792, 
he took passage for Europe, and spent some time in London 
and Edinburgh, forming in each of these cities the acquaint- 
ance of many learned and distinguished men, and pursuing 
his medical studies with unwonted zeal and ardor. In 1794 
he returned to New York, and at once began his professional 
career. In 1795 he was appointed Professor of Botany in 
Columbia College, and about this time became a partner of 
the late Dr. Samuel Bard. In 1797 he received the appoint- 
ment of Professor of Materia Medica. These joint profes- 
sorships he held till 1807, when, upon the formation of the 
College of Physicians and Surgeons of the State of New 
York, he was chosen Professor of Surgery and Midwifery. 
The former he soon relinquished for that of the Theory and 
Practice of Clinical Medicine. In 1797 he was appointed 
one of the Attending Physicians of the New York Hospital; 
resigned in 1806; was re-appointed in 1817; resigned in 
1825; was then elected Consulting Physician, which posi- 
tion he filled until his death, in 1835.