Dr. Benjamin Rush was one of the most influential Founding Fathers.
He would be given the title the Father of Modern Psychiatry for his work in Mental Health, help heal the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, and was an avid abolitionist.
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He seemed to be well-respected by most of his peers and was an agreeable man. He did have a conflict with George Washington during the American Revolution, where he actively tried to remove him from command.
The cabal he was involved in was named the Conway Cabal. It was not effective, and it ruined his relationship with George Washington for the rest of Washington's life.
Family Overview
Dr. Benjamin Rush was born the son of John Harvey Rush and Susannah Hall.
The Rush family had been residents in Pennsylvania since the 17th century when Benjamin's two-time great-grandfather arrived in Pennsylvania with William Penn to begin a new colony.
On his mother's side, his grandfather had migrated from England to Pennsylvania and eventually served as county Judge.
He was 1 of seven children growing up in Byberry.
Rush's father died when he was five, leaving his mother to care for the large family. At eight years of age, Benjamin was sent to live with an aunt and uncle to receive a proper education.
Benjamin and his older brother Jacob attended a school in Cecil County, Maryland, run by his uncle Rev. Samuel Finley, which would later become West Nottingham Academy.
In 1760, after further studies at the College of New Jersey, Rush graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. From 1761 to 1766, Rush apprenticed under Dr. John Redman in Philadelphia.
Redman encouraged him to further his studies at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where Rush studied from 1766 to 1768 and earned a medical degree. Rush became fluent in French, Italian, and Spanish as a result of his studies and European tour.
Returning to the 13 Original colonies in 1769, Rush opened a medical practice in Philadelphia and became a Professor of Chemistry at the College of Philadelphia.
Rush ultimately published the first American textbook on chemistry, several volumes on medical student education, and wrote influential patriotic essays.
Rush's brother Jacob would go on to serve in the Continental Army and become a Revolutionary War hero and outlive his brother by 7 years.
Benjamin Rush died of Typhoid Fever while caring for the sick during a Typhoid Outbreak in
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
John Harvey Rush (1704 - 1751)
Susannah Hall (1707 - 1795)
Spouse:
Julia Stockton (1759 - 1848) - Married January 2nd, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Julia was the daughter of Richard Stockton, who also was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence.
They had 13 children, 9 of whom survived their first year: John, Ann Emily, Richard, Susannah (died as an infant), Elizabeth Graeme (died as an infant), Mary B, James, William (died as an infant), Benjamin (died as an infant), Benjamin, Julia, Samuel, William.
Rush's eldest son, John, fell into depression as a result of experiences during his tour of duty in the United States Navy.
When he returned home unable to care for himself, Rush placed him in the mental ward at the Pennsylvania Hospital, where he died 30 years later without having recovered.
Children:
- John Rush (1777 - 1837)
- Anne Emily Rush (1779 - 1850)
- Richard D. Rush (1780 - 1859)
- James Rush (1786 - 1869)
- Julia Rush (1790 - 1860)
- Samuel Rush (1795 - 1859)
- William Rush (1801 - 1864)
Siblings:
- Jacob Rush
- Rachel Elizabeth Rush
- 4 other unknown siblings