Edward Augustus Holyoke
Encyclopedia
Edward Augustus Holyoke was an American educator and physician
.
, son of the Reverend Edward Holyoke
, a former President of Harvard
, Edward Augustus graduated from that college in 1746. He opened a medical practice in 1748 and practiced for 73 more years, until retiring in 1821. He died in 1829 at the age of 100
, surpassing the average life expectancy
of the time by fifty years (assuming one survived childhood, for there was an extremely high infant mortality rate during this time).
Holyoke was a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, of which he was president from 1814 to 1820. He was a founder and president of the Massachusetts Medical Society
as well, from 1782 to 1784 and from 1786 to 1788. The length of his service to the medical practice and his pioneering work in the advancement of smallpox
vaccinations have been acknowledged.
He died in Salem, Massachusetts
at age 100.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Biography
Born in Marblehead, MassachusettsMarblehead, Massachusetts
Marblehead is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 19,808 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and Devereux Beach...
, son of the Reverend Edward Holyoke
Edward Holyoke
Edward Holyoke was an early American clergyman, and the 9th President of Harvard College.-Background:Edward Holyoke was the son of a wealthy and influential businessman, Elizur Holyoke Jr, who held several local town offices and served in the legislature...
, a former President of Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Edward Augustus graduated from that college in 1746. He opened a medical practice in 1748 and practiced for 73 more years, until retiring in 1821. He died in 1829 at the age of 100
Centenarian
A centenarian is a person who is or lives beyond the age of 100 years. Because current average life expectancies across the world are less than 100, the term is invariably associated with longevity. Much rarer, a supercentenarian is a person who has lived to the age of 110 or more, something only...
, surpassing the average life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
of the time by fifty years (assuming one survived childhood, for there was an extremely high infant mortality rate during this time).
Holyoke was a charter member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, of which he was president from 1814 to 1820. He was a founder and president of the Massachusetts Medical Society
Massachusetts Medical Society
The Massachusetts Medical Society is the oldest continuously-operating state medical society in the United States. Incorporated on November 1, 1781, by an act of the Massachusetts General Court, the MMS is a non-profit organization that consists of approximately 22,000 physicians, medical students...
as well, from 1782 to 1784 and from 1786 to 1788. The length of his service to the medical practice and his pioneering work in the advancement of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
vaccinations have been acknowledged.
He died in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
at age 100.