Jackson, Chevalier, 1865-1958

Born in Idlewood, Pennsylvania, Chevalier Jackson attended the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) and gained his medical education at Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College. While he was professor of laryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, Jackson perfected the design of the bronchoscope. His refinements, a slim brass tube with a light at the end which allowed forceps to be insterted into the lungs or stomach, revolutionized the medical technique of extracting foreign bodies. After leaving Pitt, Dr. Jackson taught at Jefferson Medical College. He established bronchoscopy clinics at Jefferson, the University of Pennsylvania, and at Temple University Hospital.

Chevalier Jackson was born in Pittsburgh in 1865 and received his M.D. from Univ. of Pennsylvania in 1926. In 1930 Jackson and his son opened the Chevalier Jackson Bronchoscopy Clinic at Temple Univ. Hospital. Jackson was a pioneer in the field of bronchoscopy.

Born in Idlewood, Pennsylvania, Chevalier Jackson attended the Western University of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pittsburgh) and gained his medical education at Philadelphia's Jefferson Medical College. While he was professor of laryngology at the University of Pittsburgh, Jackson perfected the design of the bronchoscope. His refinements, a slim brass tube with a light at the end which allowed forceps to be inserted into the lungs or stomach, revolutionized the medical technique of extracting foreign bodies. After leaving Pitt, Dr. Jackson taught at Jefferson Medical College. He established bronchoscopy clinics at Jefferson, the University of Pennsylvania, and at Temple University Hospital.

"One of the more prominent owners of the Sunrise Mill property was Dr. Chevalier Jackson. Born in Pittsburgh on November 4, 1865, Chevalier attended Western University of Pennsylvania, now the University of Pittsburgh, and received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College in 1886. Afterwards he studied Laryngology in England and in 1887 began his practice of medicine specializing in Laryngology. In 1899, he married Alice B. White and they had one son, Chevalier Lawrence Jackson. The Jacksons moved from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia in 1916 when he accepted a post at Jefferson Medical College. He purchased old Sunrise Mill in 1918 and made the 75-mile round trip commute to Philadelphia for eighteen years.

"Jackson held various posts at several institutions including: the University of Pittsburgh, Jefferson Medical College, the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine and Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania. Jackson was also President of the Woman's Medical College from 1935-1941. Dr. Jackson greatly advanced the field of Laryngology with his invention of the bronchoscope and saved countless lives by removing foreign bodies from people's throats including pins, coins and teeth. He was instrumental in getting Congress to pass the Federal Caustic Poison Act of 1927 which required the poison symbol and antidote label to be placed onto household lye and other poisonous household cleansers. Jackson authored twelve books and over four hundred medical articles.

"Dr. Jackson's hobbies were woodworking and painting. He was known for using chalk drawings during his lectures as well. Various newspaper editors requested biographical data from him prompting him to write The Life of Chevalier Jackson: An Autobiography which went on to be a best seller in 1938. Dr. Jackson died in Philadelphia on August 16, 1958. The property descended to his granddaughter who Montgomery County purchased it from in 1971."

Bibliography:

Montgomery County Department of Parks and Heritage Services. "Who was Chevalier Jackson?" Accessed October 6, 2011. http://www2.montcopa.org/historicsites/cwp/view,A,3,Q,24501,historicsitesNav,%7C.asp