John Kearsley Mitchell
Encyclopedia
John Kearsley Mitchell was an American
physician and writer, born in Shepherdstown, Virginia
(now West Virginia
). He graduated from the Medical College of the University of Pennsylvania
in 1819. Before he went to Philadelphia
to practice his profession, he made three voyages to the Far East
as ship's surgeon
. In 1826 he became professor of medicine
and physiology at the Philadelphia Medical Institute and in 1833 professor of chemistry
at the Franklin Institute
. From 1841 to 1858 he was professor of the theory and practice of medicine at Jefferson Medical College
.
His works include:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician and writer, born in Shepherdstown, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
). He graduated from the Medical College 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 1819. Before he went to Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
to practice his profession, he made three voyages to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
as ship's surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
. In 1826 he became professor of medicine
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
and physiology at the Philadelphia Medical Institute and in 1833 professor of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
. From 1841 to 1858 he was professor of the theory and practice of medicine at Jefferson Medical College
Thomas Jefferson University
Thomas Jefferson University is a private health sciences university in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States. The university consists of six constituent colleges and schools, Jefferson Medical College, Jefferson College of Graduate Studies, Jefferson School of Health...
.
His works include:
- St. Helena (1821), a poem
- On the Wisdom, Goodness and Power of God as Illustrated in the Properties of Water (1834)
- Indecision, a Tale of the Far West, and Other Poems (1839)
- On the Cryptogamous Origin of Malarious and Epidemic Fevers (1849)
- Five Essays on Various Chemical and Medical Subjects (1858), published posthumously by his son S. Weir MitchellSilas Weir MitchellSilas Weir Mitchell was an American physician and writer.He was son of a physician, John Kearsley Mitchell , and was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
.