Benjamin Rush

Ancestor Number

A100015 »

Date of Birth

December 24, 1745

Place of Birth

Byberry Township, Pennsylvania

Date of Death

April 19, 1813

Place of Death

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Spouse(s)

Julia Stockton

Children

John, Ann Emily, Richard, Susannah (died as an infant), Elizabeth Graeme (died as an infant), Mary B, James, William (died as an infant), Benjamin (died as an infant), Richard, Julia, Samuel, and William

Service during theAmerican Revolution

Signer of the Declaration of Independence, served as Surgeon General to the Continental Army

State of Service

Pennsylvania

Donor

In honor of the Daughters of the South Central District, Pennsylvania State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Cynthia B. Sweeney, State Regent, 2016-2019

Benjamin Rush was born December 24,1745, in Byberry Township, Pennsylvania.

He married Julia Stockton, and they had 12 children: John, Emily, Richard, Susanna, Elizabeth, Mary, James, William, Benjamin, Benjamin, Julia and Samuel.

Benjamin Rush graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) at age 14 and studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He was a very enlightened and educated individual. He was a physician.

Portrait of Benjamin Rush.

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He signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and later joined with the Continental Army as a physician.

As Surgeon General of the Continental Army, he strongly worked for the health of the soldier. He was with Washington at the Battles of Trenton, Princeton and Brandywine; however, he became discouraged with the conditions of the soldiers and resigned in 1778.

After the American Revolution, he continued his work at the Pennsylvania Hospital. He was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and wrote the first American book on chemistry. He was appointed as Treasurer of the United States Mint 1797–1813.

Benjamin Rush died April 19, 1813, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is buried at Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia.