Richard Allison (military physician)
Encyclopedia
Richard Allison was Physician General of the U.S. Army, the position that later became Surgeon General
, from 1792 to 1796. He was the first physician to set up a permanent practice in Cincinnati, Ohio
.
Allison was born near Goshen, New York
in 1757. During the American Revolutionary War
he served as a surgeon's mate
in the Pennsylvania Line
of the Continental Army
. He was the senior American military physician in the Northwest Indian War
, and became the surgeon general of General Anthony Wayne
's Legion when those troops were organized and defeated the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
. On the re-organization of the army in 1789, he was appointed surgeon of a regiment of infantry, and became the ranking medical officer of the U.S. Army up to the time of his resignation.
After living for a few years on his farm on the east fork of the Little Miami River
, he returned to the city in 1805, and continued to practice medicine until his death. Daniel Drake
called him the "father of our local profession," and wrote of him that "though not profound in science, he was sagacious, unassuming, amiable and kind." http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Hamilton/HamiltonChapXII.htm
Allison died in Cincinnati after a short illness. He was buried in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery on Fifth Street. His body was later moved and now is buried in the Wesleyan Cemetery
in Cincinnati.
Surgeons General of the United States Army
The Surgeon General of the United States Army is the senior-most officer of the U.S. Army Medical Department . By policy, the Surgeon General serves as Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command as well as head of the AMEDD...
, from 1792 to 1796. He was the first physician to set up a permanent practice in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
.
Allison was born near Goshen, New York
Goshen (village), New York
Goshen is a village in and the county seat of Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
in 1757. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he served as a surgeon's mate
Surgeon's mate
A surgeon's mate was a rank in the Royal Navy for a medically trained assistant to the ship's surgeon. The rank was renamed assistant surgeon in 1805, and was considered equivalent to the rank of master's mate/mate...
in the Pennsylvania Line
Pennsylvania Line
Pennsylvania, like many other colonies, was involved with the war and developing problem of the American Revolution.-History:Philadelphia was the site of the Constitutional Convention. It also served as the capital city for a while. Threats from Britain caused the country to relocate to...
of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. He was the senior American military physician in the Northwest Indian War
Northwest Indian War
The Northwest Indian War , also known as Little Turtle's War and by various other names, was a war fought between the United States and a confederation of numerous American Indian tribes for control of the Northwest Territory...
, and became the surgeon general of General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
's Legion when those troops were organized and defeated the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers
Battle of Fallen Timbers
The Battle of Fallen Timbers was the final battle of the Northwest Indian War, a struggle between American Indian tribes affiliated with the Western Confederacy and the United States for control of the Northwest Territory...
. On the re-organization of the army in 1789, he was appointed surgeon of a regiment of infantry, and became the ranking medical officer of the U.S. Army up to the time of his resignation.
After living for a few years on his farm on the east fork of the Little Miami River
Little Miami River
The Little Miami River is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States. The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren...
, he returned to the city in 1805, and continued to practice medicine until his death. Daniel Drake
Daniel Drake
Daniel Drake was an American physician, writer. He was born in Plainfield, N. J. to Isaac Drake and Elizabeth Shotwell, and elder brother of Benjamin Drake author of Life of Tecumseh...
called him the "father of our local profession," and wrote of him that "though not profound in science, he was sagacious, unassuming, amiable and kind." http://www.heritagepursuit.com/Hamilton/HamiltonChapXII.htm
Allison died in Cincinnati after a short illness. He was buried in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery on Fifth Street. His body was later moved and now is buried in the Wesleyan Cemetery
Wesleyan Cemetery
Wesleyan Cemetery is the name of any of many different cemeteries. The name is generally inspired by the name John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement. Many of these cemeteries had their beginnings in the Methodist Church...
in Cincinnati.