John Delamater, M.D.
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DELAMATER, John, physician, born in Chatham, New York, 18 April 1787" died in Cleveland, Ohio, 28 March 1867. His family (the De la Moitres) was of French origin, his ancestors being Huguenot exiles, who found refuge in Holland. His father removed to Duanesburg, New York, then in Albany County, where he received a good education for those days, and at the age of nineteen was licensed to practice medicine. He entered into partnership with his uncle, Dr. Dorr, of Chatham, but in 1815 established himself in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and during a residence of eight years in that place his professional ability began to be recognized. In 1823 he was invited to a professorship in the Berkshire medical institute, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and when, in 1827, the regents of the state of New York at Fairfield, Herkimer County, opened a new medical school Dr. Delamater was assigned to a leading place in its faculty. After residing there eight years he removed to Willoughby, Ohio, having previously visited Cincinnati, where he delivered a course of lectures. Having labored in the Medical institute at Willoughby about six years, he removed in 1842 to Cleveland, where he spent the remainder of his life.
He took part in the establishment of the Cleveland medical college, lectured at Bowdoin, Dartmouth, Geneva, and other Colleges throughout the country, and at his death left the manuscript notes of over seventy different courses on almost every branch of medical science. He was all incessant student, gifted with a clear mind, a never failing memory, and a remarkable command of language, and it is doubtful whether, as a College lecturer, he has ever been surpassed in this country. As a consulting physician, his opinions took high rank. In 1860 he resigned his work in connection with the College, and was made professor emeritus, at the same time receiving the degree of LL. D. He subsequently delivered fifty lectures, taking the place of a number of the faculty called away on duties arising from the civil war, which was his last appearance in public.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
