James McHenry-- Part 1: Physician From Ireland

From Wikipedia.

James McHenry (1753-1816)

In the last post, I mentioned that Fort McHenry was named after this man.

Born in Ireland.   American military surgeon and statesman.  Was the third U.S. Secretary of War, serving under George Washington and John Adams.

In 1771, his family sent him to the North American colonies for his health and to see if moving there would be a good idea.  He apprenticed under Benjamin Rush to be a physician.  Practiced medicine and became a surgeon.

During the American Revolution he served as a physician.  On August 10, 1776, he was appointed surgeon of the Fifth Pennsylvania Battalion and stationed at Fort Washington, New York.  He was taken prisoner when the fort was captured by Sir William Howe.

While prisoner, he observed the poor medical conditions the prisoners had, but nothing came of it.

--Brock-Perry