Cadwallader Colden
Encyclopedia
Cadwallader Colden was a physician, farmer, surveyor, botanist, and a lieutenant governor for the Province of New York
.
parents, while his mother Janet Hughes was visiting there. His father, Rev. Alexander Colden A.B. of Duns
, Berwickshire
, sent him to the Royal High School
and Edinburgh University to become a minister. When he graduated, he continued his studies in physics, anatomy, chemistry and botany. In 1710, his aunt invited him to Philadelphia where he started his practice in medicine. He returned to Scotland to marry Alice Chryste in 1715, and returned with her to Philadelphia that same year.
In 1743, he published a series of essays noting the correlation between filthy living conditions and high rates of disease in New York City. This was particularly prompted by an epidemic of yellow fever
at the time. Colden's essays were critical for establishing the sanitation
efforts of New York City, and a milestone in the development of the field of public health
.
On 1 November 1765 Cadwallader was confronted by a huge crowd carrying an effigy of him in a parade to protest the Stamp Act
. He seemed to enjoy confrontation and had gone out of his way to defend royal prerogative. Members of the throng had appropriated his coach and added it to the parade; at the end of the route the coach was smashed to kindling and used as part of a great celebratory bonfire on Bowling Green.
He was acting governor of New York from 1760 to 1762 (replaced by Robert Monckton
in 1762) and again from 1763 to 1765 and finally as Governor (1769 to 1771) after Henry Moore
's death. He was likely one of the oldest British governors in New York. He was replaced by John Murray
after his last term.
In 1769 at his request the New York Assembly led by James Delancey passed a bill providing funds for British troops garrisoned New York City. The Livingston family voted against as they opposed a standing army in times of peace.
He served as the first colonial representative to the Iroquois Confederacy, an experience that resulted in his writing The History of the Five Indian Nations, the first book on the subject.
He died in Spring Hill near Flushing in Queens County on Long Island
in New York. He was buried on 28 September 1776 in a private cemetery, in Spring Hill. An elementary school in Flushing was named after him. It is more commonly known as Public School 214 Queens. His grandson was Cadwallader David Colden
. His daughter, Jane Colden
, was the first female botanist working in America.
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
.
Biography
He was born in Ireland, of ScottishScottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
parents, while his mother Janet Hughes was visiting there. His father, Rev. Alexander Colden A.B. of Duns
Duns
Duns is the county town of the historic county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders.-Early history:Duns law, the original site of the town of Duns, has the remains of an Iron Age hillfort at its summit...
, Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, sent him to the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
and Edinburgh University to become a minister. When he graduated, he continued his studies in physics, anatomy, chemistry and botany. In 1710, his aunt invited him to Philadelphia where he started his practice in medicine. He returned to Scotland to marry Alice Chryste in 1715, and returned with her to Philadelphia that same year.
In 1743, he published a series of essays noting the correlation between filthy living conditions and high rates of disease in New York City. This was particularly prompted by an epidemic of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
at the time. Colden's essays were critical for establishing the sanitation
Sanitation
Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of wastes. Hazards can be either physical, microbiological, biological or chemical agents of disease. Wastes that can cause health problems are human and animal feces, solid wastes, domestic...
efforts of New York City, and a milestone in the development of the field of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
.
On 1 November 1765 Cadwallader was confronted by a huge crowd carrying an effigy of him in a parade to protest the Stamp Act
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
. He seemed to enjoy confrontation and had gone out of his way to defend royal prerogative. Members of the throng had appropriated his coach and added it to the parade; at the end of the route the coach was smashed to kindling and used as part of a great celebratory bonfire on Bowling Green.
He was acting governor of New York from 1760 to 1762 (replaced by Robert Monckton
Robert Monckton
Robert Monckton was an officer of the British army and a colonial administrator in British North America. He had a distinguished military and political career, being second in command to General Wolfe at the battle of Quebec and subsequently being the Governor of New York State...
in 1762) and again from 1763 to 1765 and finally as Governor (1769 to 1771) after Henry Moore
Sir Henry Moore, 1st Baronet
Sir Henry Moore, 1st Baronet was a British colonial leader who served as royal Governor of Province of New York from 1765 to 1769.-Early life:...
's death. He was likely one of the oldest British governors in New York. He was replaced by John Murray
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
after his last term.
In 1769 at his request the New York Assembly led by James Delancey passed a bill providing funds for British troops garrisoned New York City. The Livingston family voted against as they opposed a standing army in times of peace.
He served as the first colonial representative to the Iroquois Confederacy, an experience that resulted in his writing The History of the Five Indian Nations, the first book on the subject.
He died in Spring Hill near Flushing in Queens County on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in New York. He was buried on 28 September 1776 in a private cemetery, in Spring Hill. An elementary school in Flushing was named after him. It is more commonly known as Public School 214 Queens. His grandson was Cadwallader David Colden
Cadwallader D. Colden
Cadwallader David Colden was an American politician.-Life:...
. His daughter, Jane Colden
Jane Colden
Jane Colden was an American botanist described as the "first botanist of her sex in her country" by Asa Gray in 1843...
, was the first female botanist working in America.