James McCune Smith
Encyclopedia
James McCune Smith was an American physician
, apothecary
, abolitionist, and author. He is the first African-American to earn a medical degree, and the first to run a pharmacy
in the United States. Smith wrote forcefully in refutation of the common misconceptions about race, intelligence, medicine, and society in general. His friends and colleagues in this movement were often famous and consisted of many noted abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass
.
, where he is described as an "exceptionally bright student".
, and who was also a graduate of the African Free School. Upon graduation, Smith tried to attend several American colleges, but he was denied admission by each of them due to racial discrimination.
Williams suggested that Smith attend the University of Glasgow
in Scotland. Williams helped Smith raise money for his trip to Scotland and his subsequent education there. Smith was accepted to the university, where he later graduated at the top of his class. He obtained a bachelor's degree
in 1835, a master's degree
in 1836, and a medical degree
in 1837. He then traveled from Glasgow
to Paris
to complete a brief internship.
in the United States, which was located on West Broadway
.
. When he returned to New York
, he became a member of the American Anti-Slavery Society
. In 1850, he was one of the key organizers of New York's resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act as a member of the Committee of Thirteen. During the mid 1850s, he helped Frederick Douglass
to establish the National Council of Colored People.
(1855), which constituted an important move away from seeking approval and authentication from white abolitionists in African-American accounts of slavery
. In this introduction, he writes:
Smith also wrote from the view of a trained doctor. The physician and abolitionist wrote an essay that refuted the theories of race in Thomas Jefferson
's "Notes on the State of Virginia". He also wrote essays that rejected phrenology
and homeopathy
.
At Glasgow, Smith was trained in the then-new science of statistics. He used this training to refute the arguments of slave owners, who claimed that blacks were inferior and that slaves were better off than free blacks. He wrote an essay critiquing the U.S. Census of 1840 on racial and statistical grounds.
at Wilberforce College
, Ohio
, the oldest African-American college in the United States, but Smith was too ill to take the position. Smith died November 17, 1865 of congestive heart failure in Long Island, New York two years later at the age of 52, just nineteen days before the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment
to the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery throughout the country. Smith was survived by his widow, Malvina, and five children.
After Smith's death, his descendants passed for white, and later generations didn't know he was their ancestor until Greta Blau, Smith's great-great-great-granddaughter, took a course on the history of blacks in New York and realized he was her ancestor. Smith would lie buried in an unmarked grave at Cypress Hills Cemetery, in Brooklyn, New York for 145 years, until his descendants ceremoniously dedicated a tombstone in September, 2010.
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...
, apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
, abolitionist, and author. He is the first African-American to earn a medical degree, and the first to run a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
in the United States. Smith wrote forcefully in refutation of the common misconceptions about race, intelligence, medicine, and society in general. His friends and colleagues in this movement were often famous and consisted of many noted abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
.
Early years
Smith was born to a self-emancipated mother and father in New York City, New York. He attended the African Free SchoolAfrican Free School
The African Free School was an institution founded by the New York Manumission Society on November 2, 1787. It was founded to provide education to children of slaves and freemen.-History:...
, where he is described as an "exceptionally bright student".
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and who was also a graduate of the African Free School. Upon graduation, Smith tried to attend several American colleges, but he was denied admission by each of them due to racial discrimination.
Williams suggested that Smith attend the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in Scotland. Williams helped Smith raise money for his trip to Scotland and his subsequent education there. Smith was accepted to the university, where he later graduated at the top of his class. He obtained a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 1835, a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in 1836, and a medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
in 1837. He then traveled from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to complete a brief internship.
Medicine
Upon his return to New York City in 1837, Smith became the United States' first professionally trained African-American physician. His practice spanned 25 years. In 1846, he was appointed the only doctor of the Free Negro Orphan Asylum, where he worked for more than twenty years. He opened what has been called the first black pharmacyPharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
in the United States, which was located on West Broadway
West Broadway (Manhattan)
West Broadway, not to be confused with Broadway, is a north-south street in the New York City borough of Manhattan separated into two parts by a park. The northern part begins at TriBeCa Park, near the intersection of Sixth Avenue, Walker Street and Beach Street in TriBeCa...
.
Abolitionist Movement
While in Scotland, Smith was a member of the Glasgow Emancipation SocietyGlasgow Emancipation Society
The Glasgow Emancipation Society was a group of Glaswegians who formed an anti-slavery abolitionist group. Prominent members included James McCune Smith and William Smeal....
. When he returned to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he became a member of the American Anti-Slavery Society
American Anti-Slavery Society
The American Anti-Slavery Society was an abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan. Frederick Douglass was a key leader of this society and often spoke at its meetings. William Wells Brown was another freed slave who often spoke at meetings. By 1838, the society had...
. In 1850, he was one of the key organizers of New York's resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act as a member of the Committee of Thirteen. During the mid 1850s, he helped Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
to establish the National Council of Colored People.
Essays and writings
Smith was a prolific writer and essayist. Among other works, he wrote the introduction to Fredrick Douglass' second autobiography, My Bondage and My FreedomMy Bondage and My Freedom
My Bondage and My Freedom is an autobiographical slave narrative written by Frederick Douglass and published in 1855. It is the second of three autobiographies written by Douglass, and is mainly an expansion of his first , discussing in greater detail his transition from bondage to liberty...
(1855), which constituted an important move away from seeking approval and authentication from white abolitionists in African-American accounts of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
. In this introduction, he writes:
"...the worst of our institutions, in its worst aspect, cannot keep down energy, truthfulness, and earnest struggle for the right."
Smith also wrote from the view of a trained doctor. The physician and abolitionist wrote an essay that refuted the theories of race in Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's "Notes on the State of Virginia". He also wrote essays that rejected phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
and homeopathy
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
.
At Glasgow, Smith was trained in the then-new science of statistics. He used this training to refute the arguments of slave owners, who claimed that blacks were inferior and that slaves were better off than free blacks. He wrote an essay critiquing the U.S. Census of 1840 on racial and statistical grounds.
Personal life & Death
Smith was appointed professor of anthropologyAnthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
at Wilberforce College
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce University is a private, coed, liberal arts historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio. Affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church, it was the first college to be owned and operated by African Americans...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, the oldest African-American college in the United States, but Smith was too ill to take the position. Smith died November 17, 1865 of congestive heart failure in Long Island, New York two years later at the age of 52, just nineteen days before the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution officially abolished and continues to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. It was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, passed by the House on January 31, 1865, and adopted on December 6, 1865. On...
to the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery throughout the country. Smith was survived by his widow, Malvina, and five children.
After Smith's death, his descendants passed for white, and later generations didn't know he was their ancestor until Greta Blau, Smith's great-great-great-granddaughter, took a course on the history of blacks in New York and realized he was her ancestor. Smith would lie buried in an unmarked grave at Cypress Hills Cemetery, in Brooklyn, New York for 145 years, until his descendants ceremoniously dedicated a tombstone in September, 2010.
External links
- Louverture Project: - 1841 Speech by James McCune Smith
- The education and medical practice of Dr. James McCune Smith (1813-1865), first black American to hold a medical degree. J Natl Med Assoc. 2003 Jul;95(7):603-14. Smith's medical education and influence.