James Jackson (physician)
Encyclopedia
James Jackson was a United States
physician
. He was a proponent of Massachusetts General Hospital
and became its first physician.
in the Continental Congress
. He graduated from Harvard
in 1796, and, after teaching for a year in Leicester Academy
, was employed until December 1797 as a clerk for his father, who was then an officer of the government. After studying medicine in Salem
for two years, he sailed for London
, where he became a “dresser” in St. Thomas's Hospital, and attended lectures there and at Guy's Hospital
.
He returned to Boston
in 1800, and began a medical practice, which he continued until 1866. In 1803 he became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society
, and in 1810 he proposed with John Collins Warren
the establishment of a hospital and an asylum for the insane. Somerville Asylum was soon founded, and afterward the Massachusetts General Hospital
was begun in Boston, of which he was the first physician until he resigned in 1835. In 1810 he was chosen professor of clinical medicine at Harvard Medical School
, and in 1812 professor of theory and practice, which post he held until 1835, and was afterward professor emeritus until his death.
He also published articles in the Transactions of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he was elected president several times. Reports drawn up principally or entirely by him include:
He also made numerous other contributions to the New England Medical and Surgical Journal and other periodicals.
, industrialist Patrick Tracy Jackson
, and Massachusetts Supreme Court judge Charles Jackson. Among his students was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
, who married his brother Charles' daughter Amelia Lee Jackson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
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...
. He was a proponent of Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
and became its first physician.
Biography
He was the son of Newburyport merchant Jonathan Jackson who had been a representative of MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
. He graduated from Harvard
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
in 1796, and, after teaching for a year in Leicester Academy
Leicester Academy
Leicester Academy was founded on March 23, 1784, when the Act of Incorporation for Leicester Academy was passed by the Massachusetts General Court as a private, state chartered institution. The charter issued to the Academy bears the bold signature of John Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts; and...
, was employed until December 1797 as a clerk for his father, who was then an officer of the government. After studying medicine in Salem
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...
for two years, he sailed for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he became a “dresser” in St. Thomas's Hospital, and attended lectures there and at Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
.
He returned to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1800, and began a medical practice, which he continued until 1866. In 1803 he became a member 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...
, and in 1810 he proposed with John Collins Warren
John Collins Warren
John Collins Warren , of Boston, was one of the most renowned American surgeons of the 19th century. In 1846 he gave permission to William T.G. Morton to provide ether anesthesia while Warren performed a minor surgical procedure...
the establishment of a hospital and an asylum for the insane. Somerville Asylum was soon founded, and afterward the Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
was begun in Boston, of which he was the first physician until he resigned in 1835. In 1810 he was chosen professor of clinical medicine at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, and in 1812 professor of theory and practice, which post he held until 1835, and was afterward professor emeritus until his death.
Works
- On the Brunomian System (1809)
- “Remarks on the Medical Effects of Dentition” in the New England Medical and Surgical Journal (1812)
- Eulogy on Dr. John Warren (1815)
- Syllabus of Lectures (1816)
- Text-Book of Lectures (1825-27)
- A memoir of his son, James Jackson, Jr., who died in 1834
- Letters to a Young Physician (1855; 4th ed., 1856)
He also published articles in the Transactions of the Massachusetts Medical Society, of which he was elected president several times. Reports drawn up principally or entirely by him include:
- “On Cow Pox and Small Pox”
- “On Spotted Fever”
- “On Spasmodic Cholera”
He also made numerous other contributions to the New England Medical and Surgical Journal and other periodicals.
Family
He was the brother of Lowell, MassachusettsLowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, industrialist Patrick Tracy Jackson
Patrick Tracy Jackson
Patrick Tracy Jackson was a United States manufacturer, one of the founders of the Boston Manufacturing Company of Waltham, Massachusetts, and later a founder of the Merrimack Manufacturing Company whose developments formed the nucleus of Lowell, Massachusetts.-Biography:He was born in...
, and Massachusetts Supreme Court judge Charles Jackson. Among his students was Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. was an American physician, professor, lecturer, and author. Regarded by his peers as one of the best writers of the 19th century, he is considered a member of the Fireside Poets. His most famous prose works are the "Breakfast-Table" series, which began with The Autocrat...
, who married his brother Charles' daughter Amelia Lee Jackson.