Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush: Pioneer Physician, Founding Father, and Advocate
Full Name and Common Aliases
Benjamin Rush was born on January 4, 1746, in Baltimore, Province of Maryland, to John and Sarah (Sprout) Rush. His full name is Benjamin Rush, but he is often referred to as "the Father of American Psychiatry" or simply "Dr. Rush."
Birth and Death Dates
Benjamin Rush was born on January 4, 1746, and passed away on April 19, 1813.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Rush held dual nationality, being both American and British, due to the time period of his birth. He is best known as a physician, but he also made significant contributions in other fields such as politics, education, and literature. Rush's profession was shaped by his early life experiences and interests.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Rush grew up in a family that valued education and self-improvement. His father, John, was an ironfounder and businessman who encouraged Benjamin to pursue higher learning. From an early age, Rush demonstrated exceptional intellectual abilities, which led him to attend Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey) in 1759.
During his time at Princeton, Rush became interested in medicine under the guidance of Dr. William Smith, a prominent physician and professor. This sparked a lifelong passion for healing and the study of human behavior. After graduating from Princeton in 1760 with a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Rush moved to Philadelphia to continue his medical studies.
Major Accomplishments
Rush's professional achievements are numerous and far-reaching. Some of his most notable accomplishments include:
First American psychiatrist: Rush is recognized for being the first American physician to study and write about mental illness. His work in this area laid the groundwork for future research and treatment.
Prolific writer and publisher: Throughout his career, Rush published numerous articles, essays, and books on various subjects, including medicine, politics, and education.
Founding Father: As a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776, Rush played an active role in shaping America's early history.Notable Works or Actions
Rush was a prolific writer and published several notable works during his lifetime. Some of his most famous writings include:
"Inquiries into the Nature and Effects of the Malignant Fever Lately Epidemical in Philadelphia": This book, written in 1793, detailed Rush's observations on the yellow fever outbreak that ravaged Philadelphia.
"Essays, Literary, Moral, and Philosophical": Published in 1798, this collection of essays showcases Rush's wide-ranging interests and intellectual curiosity.Impact and Legacy
Benjamin Rush left an indelible mark on American society. His contributions to medicine, politics, and education have had a lasting impact:
Pioneered American psychiatry: Rush's work in mental health paved the way for future research and treatment.
Shaped early American history: As a Founding Father, Rush played a crucial role in shaping America's early years.
Inspired generations of thinkers: Rush's writings and ideas continue to inspire scholars and researchers today.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Benjamin Rush is widely quoted and remembered for his:
Insightful writings on human nature: Rush's essays and books offer valuable insights into the human condition.
Pioneering work in mental health: His contributions to psychiatry have had a lasting impact on the field.
* Influence on American history: As a Founding Father, Rush played a key role in shaping America's early years.
Quotes by Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush's insights on:
The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without it there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object of all republican governments.
Mania’s premonitory signs are unusual acts of extravagance, manifested by the purchase of houses, and certain expensive and unnecessary articles of furniture.
It would seem from this fact, that man is naturally a wild animal, and that when taken from the woods, he is never happy in his natural state, ’till he returns to them again.
In such a performance you may lay the foundation of national happiness only in religion, not by leaving it doubtful “whether morals can exist without it,” but by asserting that without religion morals are the effects of causes as purely physical as pleasant breezes and fruitful seasons.
I am pursuing Truth, and am indifferent whither I am led, if she is my only leader.
Upon my return from the army to Baltimore in the winter of 1777, I sat next to John Adams in Congress, and upon my whispering to him and asking him if he thought we should succeed in our struggle with Great Britain, he answered me, “Yes-if we fear God and repent of our sins.”
I anticipate the Day when to command Respect in the remotest Regions it will be sufficient to say I am an American.
The turgid style of Johnson, the purple glare of Gibbon, and even the studied and thickset metaphors of Junius are all equally unnatural, and should not be admitted into our company.