Coxe, John Redman, 1773-1864

John Redman Coxe was born in Trenton, New Jersey, the son of Daniel and Sarah Redman Coxe, and the grandson of Philadelphia physician John Redman. Coxe received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1794 and after additional study in Europe, established his practice in Philadelphia. He also taught at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote on medical topics, and edited medical journals and books. He was married to Sarah Cox; they had ten children. Winterthur Museum has an etching from a drawing by him.

John Redman Coxe was a Philadelphia physician, teacher, and editor.

Parker Cleaveland worked as a mineralogist and geologist.

John Redman Coxe is best known as a premier physician in nineteenth century America. Coxe was born in New Jersey but spent much of his youth in England because his father was a loyalist during the Revolution. Coxe returned to Philadelphia to study medicine under Benjamin Rush. After traveling throughout Europe to continue his medical education, he established a practice in Philadelphia in 1796.

Coxe was an advocate of inoculation at a time when it was a controversial procedure. He became known as a druggist and prepared a syrup concoction that carried his name and lasted until the late-nineteenth century. He later became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and is credited with helping found pharmaceutical studies in the U.S.. Coxe eventually left the university in a cloud of controversy, primarily because his teachings did not follow the latest trends in medicine.

Coxe also founded and edited an important medical journal in Philadelphia. Tracking Coxe’s career, after initial success, the journal folded in part because of its conservative take on medical practices. In addition to his editing work, Coxe authored or edited a number of important medical books.