Nathaniel Chapman (1789-1853) Medical Lectures (KC0111)

Nathaniel Chapman was born at Summer Hill, Fairfax County, Virginia, the son of George and Amelia Chapman. He was educated by Alexandria Academy and at the age of fifteen begin his medical apprenticeships with Dr. John Weems of Georgetown, Maryland and Dr. Dick of Alexandria, Virginia. In 1797, he became a private pupil of Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia Several years later he entered the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with honors in 1801 having presented his dissertation on hydrophobia. After a brief academic tour of Great Britain, Chapman returned to Philadelphia in 1804 to practice medicine. In 1813, following the death of Benjamin Rush, the University of Pennsylvania reorganized its faculty and curriculum and appointed Chapman professor of Materia Medica, and later professor of the theory and practice of medicine. He combined a profound knowledge of his subjects with a delightful style of presentation and was famous as a raconteur. Chapman founded, in 1817, the Medical Institute of Philadelphia, the first post-graduate medical school in the United States and conducted medical summer courses for twenty years. He authored several important medical works, including a compendium of his lectures on the theory and practice of medicine. He was elected the American Medical Association's first president in 1848. Retired from his official positions and active practice in 1850.

The three volumes of lecture notes are inscribed on their bindings with the note, "Chapman's Lectures" and contain dates and markings which indicate they were made and used in Philadelphia between ca. 1820 and ca. 1834. A number of students owned and used the volumes and wrote their names in them. ca. 1820-ca. 1834

3 volumes

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updated: Monday, February 07, 2011
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