William Paine (physician)
Encyclopedia
William Paine was a physician and political figure in New Brunswick
. He represented Charlotte County
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
from 1786 to 1787. Paine was unusual in that he was a United Empire Loyalist who chose to return to the United States
.
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts
, the son of Timothy Paine and Sarah Chandler. He was educated at Harvard College
, then studied medicine with Doctor Edward Augustus Holyoke
and set up practice in Worcester in 1771. In 1773, he married Lois Orne. In 1774, he signed a protest against the activities of the pre-revolutionary committees of correspondence. He was censured for his protest and, later that year, travelled to England
to continue his medical studies. Paine received an M.D.
from Marischal College
in Scotland
. He returned to North America and served as apothecary for the British forces. In 1782, he was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia
. Paine was granted land near Passamaquoddy Bay
in New Brunswick. He first settled on Letete Island (later Frye's Island) but later moved to Saint John
. He served on the city council in 1785 and was elected to the legislative assembly later that year. He returned to Massachusetts to settle his financial affairs there and decided to remain there, settling first at Salem
and then Worcester. In 1812, he became an American citizen. Paine became an honorary member of the Massachusetts Medical Society
, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and helped found the American Antiquarian Society
. He died at Worcester at the age of 82.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. He represented Charlotte County
Charlotte County, New Brunswick
Charlotte County is located in the southwestern portion of New Brunswick, Canada.In most of the county, fishing and aquaculture dominate the local economy, although the town of St. Andrews is a tourist mecca and St...
in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick
The Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick is located in Fredericton. It was established de jure when the colony was created in 1784, but only came in to session in 1786 following the first elections in late 1785. Until 1891, it was the lower house in a bicameral legislature when its upper house...
from 1786 to 1787. Paine was unusual in that he was a United Empire Loyalist who chose to return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, the son of Timothy Paine and Sarah Chandler. He was educated at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, then studied medicine with Doctor Edward Augustus Holyoke
Edward Augustus Holyoke
Edward Augustus Holyoke was an American educator and physician.-Biography:Born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, 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,...
and set up practice in Worcester in 1771. In 1773, he married Lois Orne. In 1774, he signed a protest against the activities of the pre-revolutionary committees of correspondence. He was censured for his protest and, later that year, travelled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to continue his medical studies. Paine received an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He returned to North America and served as apothecary for the British forces. In 1782, he was sent to Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. Paine was granted land near Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Most of the bay lies within Canada, with its western shore bounded by Washington County, Maine. The southernmost point is formed by...
in New Brunswick. He first settled on Letete Island (later Frye's Island) but later moved to Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
. He served on the city council in 1785 and was elected to the legislative assembly later that year. He returned to Massachusetts to settle his financial affairs there and decided to remain there, settling first at 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...
and then Worcester. In 1812, he became an American citizen. Paine became an honorary 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...
, a fellow 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...
and helped found the American Antiquarian Society
American Antiquarian Society
The American Antiquarian Society , located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is both a learned society and national research library of pre-twentieth century American History and culture. Its main building, known also as Antiquarian Hall, is a U.S. National Historic Landmark...
. He died at Worcester at the age of 82.