John Morgan (physician)


John Morgan, "founder of Public Medical Instruction in America," was co-founder of the Medical College at the University of Pennsylvania, the first medical school in Colonial America; and he served as the second "Chief physician & director general" of the Continental Army. He was an early member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1766, where he served as Curator from 1769-1770.

Biography

The first son of Evan Morgan, an immigrant from Wales, and Joanna Biles, Morgan was born in Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania. After a classical education at West Nottingham Academy in Maryland, he graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1757.
He fought for the British during the Seven Years' War, commissioned as a lieutenant and serving as a surgeon on the western frontier. After that he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he earned his degree in 1763. He did some touring in Europe, studying medical practice in Paris and visiting Italy. During this time, he was elected to the Royal Academy of Surgery at Paris in 1764 and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and of London in 1765.

Medical school

That year with Dr. William Shippen, another Edinburgh graduate, Morgan co-founded the College of Philadelphia Medical School, the first medical school in North America.
Morgan served as Chief Physician to the Continental Army from October 1775 to January 1777. He was empowered by the Continental Congress to inspect regimental hospitals and transfer patients if warranted and to examine regimental surgeons. Rancor with the regimental surgeons became so bad that Morgan quit when the Army moved from Boston to New York.
He was a founding member of the American Philosophical Society in 1766, based in Philadelphia.