Benjamin Rush, an accomplished physician, writer, educator, and humanitarian, was born in Byberry, Pennsylvania. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Philadelphia in 1759, he pursued an M.D. at Edinburgh, studying science, French, Italian, and Spanish. Upon returning to Philadelphia in 1769, he opened a successful medical practice and became a Professor of Chemistry at the College of Philadelphia. Rush was known for his work with the poor and authored the first American chemistry textbook. He also contributed editorial essays to the papers about the patriot cause and joined the American Philosophical Society. In 1776, Rush was appointed to represent Philadelphia at the Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. He served as surgeon-general of the middle department of the Continental Army but resigned after a conflict over the Army Medical service. Later, he secretly campaigned for Washington's removal as commander-in-chief but withdrew from war-related activities after being confronted by Washington. Rush supported the adoption of the Constitution in 1789 and served as treasurer of the U.S. Mint from 1797 to 1813. He became a popular professor at the consolidated University of Pennsylvania and was a social activist, advocating for the abolition of slavery, scientific education, and public medical clinics for the poor. Rush passed away at the age of 68 at his home in Philadelphia, renowned as America's foremost physician.
