Hudson Family

Erasmus Darwin Hudson, Sr. (1806-1880), was an anti-slavery organizer, agent for the Connecticut and American Anti-Slavery Societies between 1838-1849, pioneer orthopedic surgeon, and inventor of prosthetic devices.

• 1806: Born December 15, Torringford (now part of Torrington) CT, to Daniel Coe and Rhoda Fowler Hudson Educated at Torringford Academy
• 1823 - 1827 : Studied medicine with Dr. Remus M. Fowler, New Marlboro, MA; then at Berkshire Medical College (Pittsfield, MA), a branch of Williams College
• 1827: Received M.D. from Berkshire Medical College; member of Berkshire Historical Society; married Martha Turner, daughter of Deacon Isaac and Martha Humphrey Turner of Marlboro, MA
• 1828 - 1833 : Private medical practice, Bloomfield, CT; member Hopkins Medical Association, Hartford County Medical Society, Connecticut Medical Society; physician and surgeon, Connecticut State Emigrant Hospital; temperance advocate and local leader in philanthropic work
• 1833 - 1837 : Co-principal, with Rev. Epaphras Goodman, of Goodman and Hudson's Family Boarding School, Torringford, CT
• 1838 - 1839 : Lecturing agent, Connecticut Anti-Slavery Society
• 1839 - 1850 : General agent, American Anti-Slavery Society; circuit included in turn, Connecticut, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware; family relocated to Oberlin, OH, then to Northampton, MA
• 1850 - 1855 : Orthopedic surgeon in private practice, Springfield, MA
• 1855 - 1880 : Orthopedic surgeon in private practice, New York City
• ca. 1861 - 1865 : Commission from Surgeon General of United States Army for the care and treatment of wounded soldiers requiring amputation and resection at the military hospital at Central Park in New York City and other hospitals; invented orthopedic apparatus, and wrote related surgical reports to the United States Sanitary Commission.
• 1867: Received awards for orthopedic apparatus, Exposition Universelle, Paris, France
• 1872: European Tour
• 1876: Received awards for surgical apparatus, Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, PA
• 1880: Died of pneumonia December 31 in Riverside, Greenwich, CT

See Series 1, folder 5 for a bibliography of E.D. Hudson, Sr.'s published writings.

Erasmus Darwin Hudson, Jr. (1843-1887), was a thoracic physician and educator.

• 1843: Born November 10, Northampton, MA, to Erasmus Darwin, Sr. and Martha Turner Hudson
• 1855: Moved with family to New York City, attended public schools
• 1864: Graduated from College of the City of New York
• 1867: Received M.D. from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons
• 1867 - 1868 : House surgeon, Bellevue Hospital, and private practice, New York City
• 1869 - 1870 : Health Inspector, New York City
• 1870 - 1880 : Attending physician, Bellevue Hospital, Trinity House, and Trinity Chapel Parish; professor, Women's Medical College of the New York Infirmary; consultant to other physicians
• 1871: Married Laura Shaw, daughter of Dr. Samuel and Elizabeth Clarke Shaw of Plainfield, MA
• 1880 - 1887 : Professor, New York Polyclinic; attending physician Bellevue and St. Elizabeth's Hospital, New York City; librarian and member of the Library Committee, New York Academy of Medicine; chairman, Ethics Committee, Medical Society of the County
• 1887: Died of pneumonia May 9 in New York City

See Series 2, folder 1 for bibliography of E.D. Hudson, Jr.'s published writings.

From the guide to the Hudson Family Papers MS 332., 1807-1963, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries)