Shippen, William, Jr., 1736-1808
Name Entries
person
Shippen, William, Jr., 1736-1808
Computed Name Heading
Name Components
Surname :
Shippen
Forename :
William
NameAddition :
Jr.
Date :
1736-1808
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
William Shippen Jr. (October 21, 1736 – July 11, 1808), was the first systematic teacher of anatomy, surgery and obstetrics in Colonial America and founded the first maternity hospital in America. He was the 3rd Director General of Hospitals of the Continental Army.
Born in Philadelphia, he studied at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), graduating in 1754. He studied medicine first with his father, then went to England and Scotland and in 1761 earned his medical degree at the University of Edinburgh Medical School. Shippen followed his father William Shippen Sr. into a medical career. At his father's encouragement, William Jr. commenced America's first series of anatomy lectures in 1762. He became one of the first professors (of anatomy, surgery, and midwifery) of America's first medical school (the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania), which he co-founded in 1765 with Dr. John Morgan.
During the American Revolutionary War, Shippen served as Chief Physician & Director General of the Hospital of the Continental Army in New Jersey (1776) and as Director General of the Hospitals West of the Hudson River (October 1776). Ultimately, he served (April 11, 1777 – January 1781) as Director of Hospitals for the Continental Army, a precursor of the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army. Shippen had connived to replace Dr. Morgan, his predecessor in that position. Later Morgan, with the assistance of Dr. Benjamin Rush, brought about his forced resignation. He was subsequently court martialed for misappropriating supplies intended for recovering soldiers and underreporting deaths, but was acquitted on a technicality.
Shippen was among the founders of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and served as its president from 1805 until 1808. He died of anthrax in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/3891187
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q8018403
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n84803326
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n84803326
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
Acquittals
Education
Americans Abroad
Anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Medical education
Medical education
International travel
Medicine
Medicine
Medicine
Midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery
Physicians
Science and technology
Trials (Military offenses)
Nationalities
Britons
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Educators
Physicians
Legal Statuses
Places
Philadelphia
PA, US
AssociatedPlace
Birth
Princeton
NJ, US
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Edinburgh
SCT, GB
AssociatedPlace
Residence
Philadelphia
PA, US
AssociatedPlace
Death
Convention Declarations
<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>