Reynell Coates
Encyclopedia
Reynell Coates was an American physician, scientist, teacher, and poet.
Reynell Coates was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of philanthropist Samuel (1748–1830) and Amy (née Hornor) Coates, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (Langdale) Coates. At an early age, he became proficient in mathematics and languages, and studied medicine and surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital
, where at age fifteen he became an apprentice of Dr. Benjamin Rush
. He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1823 with a thesis on "Fractures of Inferior Extremities", and became resident physician at the hospital. The same year he voyaged to India
as a ship's surgeon and made an extended entomological
tour. In 1829 he accepted the chair of natural sciences at Allegheny College
. Joining the U.S. Navy as surgeon, he made during a cruise a collection that furnished the material for a large volume. He was a member of the scientific corps of the first South Sea
expedition under Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones
in 1835-36, and had charge of the department of comparative anatomy, but left the service on the return of the expedition.
, then Jacob Broom
, for president.
and contributed to the other literary journals of the time, both in prose and in verse. From 1845, he edited Leaflets of Memory: An Illuminated Annual, an annual illustrated collection of short stories and verse, of which eleven volumes are known. Of his poems "The Gambler's Wife" (1846), "Christian Charity" and "The Drunkard's Child" were best known.
, and his only child died in infancy. In 1845, after the death of his wife and child, Coates moved to Camden, New Jersey
, where he died in 1886. He was buried in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
Reynell Coates was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest son of philanthropist Samuel (1748–1830) and Amy (née Hornor) Coates, and grandson of Samuel and Mary (Langdale) Coates. At an early age, he became proficient in mathematics and languages, and studied medicine and surgery at Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System . Founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, it was the first hospital in the United States...
, where at age fifteen he became an apprentice of Dr. Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Christian Universalist, as well as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania....
. He was graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1823 with a thesis on "Fractures of Inferior Extremities", and became resident physician at the hospital. The same year he voyaged to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
as a ship's surgeon and made an extended entomological
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
tour. In 1829 he accepted the chair of natural sciences at Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
. Joining the U.S. Navy as surgeon, he made during a cruise a collection that furnished the material for a large volume. He was a member of the scientific corps of the first South Sea
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
expedition under Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones
Thomas ap Catesby Jones
Thomas ap Catesby Jones was a U.S. Navy officer during the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.-Early life:Jones was born in 1790 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Thomas ap Catesby Jones means Thomas, son of Catesby Jones in the Welsh language. His brother was Roger Jones, who would become...
in 1835-36, and had charge of the department of comparative anatomy, but left the service on the return of the expedition.
Politics
He was also active in politics. He was the author of the national address of the Native American Party in 1844, and the originator of the patriotic order, Sons of America, December 10, 1847, and wrote its ritual. In the national election of 1852 he was the candidate of the Native American Party for vice-president of the United States, on the ticket with first Daniel WebsterDaniel Webster
Daniel Webster was a leading American statesman and senator from Massachusetts during the period leading up to the Civil War. He first rose to regional prominence through his defense of New England shipping interests...
, then Jacob Broom
Jacob Broom (congressman)
Jacob Broom was an American Party member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Jacob Broom was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He moved to Philadelphia with his parents in 1819...
, for president.
Medical and scientific contributions
Coates contributed voluminously to various medical and scientific journals, many of them being translated into the French, German, Spanish and Italian languages. He published Physiology for Schools (1840)—the first work of its kind—and Natural Philosophy for Schools (1845); besides other works. He wrote a monograph on "Hereditary Haemorrhage".Literary contributions
He was the editor of Graham's MagazineGraham's Magazine
Graham's Magazine was a nineteenth century periodical based in Philadelphia established by George Rex Graham. It was alternatively referred to as Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine , Graham's Magazine of Literature and Art , Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art Graham's...
and contributed to the other literary journals of the time, both in prose and in verse. From 1845, he edited Leaflets of Memory: An Illuminated Annual, an annual illustrated collection of short stories and verse, of which eleven volumes are known. Of his poems "The Gambler's Wife" (1846), "Christian Charity" and "The Drunkard's Child" were best known.
Family
He was married on December 5, 1827 to Margaretta, daughter of William Abbott of New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, and his only child died in infancy. In 1845, after the death of his wife and child, Coates moved to Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, where he died in 1886. He was buried in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
Further reading
- Sherk, H.H., "Dr. Coates and the Know Nothings". N.J. Med., 2005, Jan.-Feb.; 102(1-2):21-5.
- Snape, W.J., "Reynell Coates (1802-1886): politician, poet, editor, naturalist, lecturer and physician". Trans. Stud. Coll. Physicians Phila., 1968, Jan.; 35(3):112-8.
- Langley, H.D., "Naval medicine in Philadelphia, 1815-1840". Trans. Stud. Coll. Physicians Phila., 1995, Dec.:132-45.
External links
- Patriotic Order Sons of America website (founded by Reynell Coates)