James Hutchinson was a distinguished physician in Philadelphia. [1] [2] [3] [4]
1778-796 James Hutchinson was the surgeon-general of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. [5]
1793 James Hutchinson died of yellow fever in Philadelphia on September 5. [6]
A biosketch of James Hutchinson reports [7]:
James, the eldest son of the second wife, born in 1752, was the "first to identify himself with Philadelphia," and the descent through him is of interest to us in this connection. He studied medicine, and in the Revolutionary War was appointed surgeon's mate July 31, 1778, promoted surgeon Feb. 1, 1779, and surgeon-general of Pennsylvania. He made a distinguished record as a physician, and in addition took great interest in measures proposed for the good of the country, including some concerning the currency. In 1779 he became a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, but resigned the office in two years. April 16, 1779, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society and was its secretary until his death. His residence was on Second Street between Walnut and Spruce. Washington notes in his diary: "Sept. 6, 1787, dined at Dr. Hutchinson's." In 1781 he purchased the house and lands on the Schuylkill formerly belonging to Joseph Galloway. In 1791 Dr. Hutchinson was made professor of chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania. He died Sept. 5, 1793, a victim to the epidemic of yellow fever which ravaged Philadelphia at that time. He married, first, Feb. 18, 1779, Lydia Biddle, daughter of John and Sarah (neeOwen) Biddle, sister of Colonel Clement Biddle, of the Revolution. She died Sept. 4, 1785. Married, secondly, Dec. 2, 1786, Sidney Evans Howell, daughter of Joseph and Sidney (nee Evans) Howell, who survived her husband many years, and died in Philadelphia Aug. 26, 1838. The first wife had a son, named James Hutchinson, who graduated A.B. Univ. of Penna. 1798, and in medicine about 1803. Served for a time in the Pennsylvania Hospital. He was unmarried. We do not find the record of his birth and death. The second wife had two sons, Randall and Israel Pemberton, and both married and had issue. Randall Hutchinson had two children who died in infancy,—one, James Pemberton Hutchinson, born Sept. 16, 1816, died Feb. 11, 1819, the other, Catherine Helen Hutchinson, born Oct. 23, 1818, died Aug. 15, 1820, and a third child, named Sydney, who died unmarried.
[1] John W. Jordan, Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Vol. 1 (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), 550, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[2] John W. Jordan, Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Vol. 1 (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), 584, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[3] John W. Jordan, Colonial Families of Philadelphia, Vol. 1 (New York: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), 172, [HathiTrust], [InternetArchive].
[4] Edward Carpenter, Louis Henry Carpenter, Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants (Philadelphia, Printed for private circulation by J. B. Lippincott company, 1912), 175, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[5] Edward Carpenter, Louis Henry Carpenter, Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants (Philadelphia, Printed for private circulation by J. B. Lippincott company, 1912), 175, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[6] Edward Carpenter, Louis Henry Carpenter, Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants (Philadelphia, Printed for private circulation by J. B. Lippincott company, 1912), 175, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].
[7] Edward Carpenter, Louis Henry Carpenter, Samuel Carpenter and his Descendants (Philadelphia, Printed for private circulation by J. B. Lippincott company, 1912), 175, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks].