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1796 Imprint by Dr. Benjamin RUSH: Perpetuate the Memory of David Rittenhouse

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:1,400.00 - 1,800.00 USD
1796 Imprint by Dr. Benjamin RUSH: Perpetuate the Memory of David Rittenhouse
Federal Period
Dr. Benjamin Rush: “An Eulogium, Intended to Perpetuate the Memory of David Rittenhouse, Late President of The American Philosophical Society...”
(1796) Federal Period, Imprint by Benjamin Rush, entitled: “An Eulogium, Intended to Perpetuate the Memory of David Rittenhouse, Late President of The American Philosophical Society...” Philadelphia, PA, Choice Extremely Fine.
Benjamin Rush (1746-1813), was a Founding Father of the United States, Signed the Declaration of Independence and attended the Continental Congress, served as Surgeon General in the Continental Army, a civic leader in Philadelphia, where he was a physician, politician, social reformer, educator and humanitarian. This historic work by Benjamin Rush, was printed in Philadelphia, and was Printed for J. Ormrod, n.d. (1796). This Imprint measures 9” x 6” with its original sewn slate gray wrappers, with just the top half of the outer spine chipped away. It remains completely unopened, and untrimmed, with a terminal blank last page. Overall, this copy is exceptionally being well-preserved. It is very rare having its original wrappers and with its original thread. Now housed in a custom modern protective covering. Quite possibly the finest known example existent. Evans 31143.
Rush signed the Declaration of Independence and attended the Continental Congress. He served as Surgeon General in the Continental Army. Rush was active in the Sons of Liberty and was elected to attend the Provincial conference to send delegates to the Continental Congress. Thomas Paine consulted Rush when writing the profoundly influential pro-independence pamphlet Common Sense. Rush represented Pennsylvania and Signed the Declaration of Independence. He also represented Philadelphia at Pennsylvania's own Constitutional Convention, and got into trouble when he criticized the new Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776.

Rush became a professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Rush was a leader of the American Enlightenment, and an enthusiastic supporter of the American Revolution. He was a leader in Pennsylvania's ratification of the Constitution in 1788. He was prominent in many reforms, especially in the areas of medicine and education. He opposed Slavery, advocated free public schools, and sought improved education for women and a more enlightened penal system. As a leading physician, Rush had a major impact on the emerging medical profession.

As an Enlightenment intellectual, he was committed to organizing all medical knowledge around explanatory theories, rather than rely on empirical methods. Rush argued that illness was the result of imbalances in the body's physical system and was caused by malfunctions in the brain. His approach prepared the way for later medical research, but Rush himself undertook none of it. He promoted public health by advocating clean environment and stressing the importance of personal and military hygiene. His study of mental disorder made him one of the Founders of American Psychiatry.