Birth Date: December 24, 1745
Birthplace: Byberry, Pennsylvania
State Represented: Pennsylvania
Occupation: Physician
Age at Signing: 30
Death: April 19, 1813; at the age of 67
Quote: “Patriotism is as much a virtue as justice, and is as necessary for the support of societies as natural affection is for the support of families.”
Summary: To read more about Benjamin Rush, read the letter below!
Fun Fact: It was Benjamin Rush that convinced John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to renew their friendship after a twelve year disagreement from a heated political debate. Dr. Rush began working on the two in 1809 but didn’t succeed until 1811 when a neighbor of Jefferson’s visited Adam and heard him say, “”I always loved Jefferson, and still love him.” Jefferson replied to Dr. Rush, “This is enough for me. I only needed this knowledge to revive towards him all of the affections of the most cordial moments of our lives.” Jefferson asked Rush to convince Adams to begin writing again, and they continued until they both died on the same day, the 50th anniversary of American Independence.
While not a devoted writer, Sierra Smith enjoys passing the time studying history. You can typically find her buried in a book, crocheting, making cards, jotting down a poem, or just hanging out with her family.
A Letter to Samuel
by Sierra Smith
April 19, 1848:
My Dear Samuel,
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the passing of your dear father, Dr. Benjamin Rush. How I miss my dear husband! And yet, I know that, someday soon, I will join him in the kingdom of our God. Do not fear for me, dear Samuel. For I shall go in peace just as your father did and just as all those who die in Christ shall.
In your last letter, you asked me about all that your father did while here on this earth. Your father fulfilled the goal he set for himself: “to spend, and be spent, for the good of mankind.” He was born to a farmer’s family Christmas Eve, 1745. When his father died in 1751, his mother moved all seven of them to Philadelphia and opened a grocery shop to support them. At age nine, your father went to live with his uncle, the Rev. Dr. Finley, in Nottingham, Maryland. There, he learned to love God, be diligent and care for those less fortunate. After graduating from the College of New Jersey, he was mentored by Dr. Redman for six years. Then, in 1766, he moved to England to get a more thorough education. There, he was introduced to John Witherspoon and even convinced him to move to America. When he arrived home, Father opened the first free medical clinic for the poor people of Philadelphia. In 1776, I met and married your dear father at 16. He was 30 at the time, and he and my father were good friends. Together, we had 13 children, 9 of whom survived childhood. I remember when you, the youngest of them, were born. How I prayed that God would spare you and not take you as He had the others!
You have heard of Thomas Pain and read his book Common Sense. Well, your father helped him with it and even gave him the title for it. Father firmly believed in the ideas of the Revolution. He told me one night, “Our cause is prosperous in every county of the providence. The hand of heaven is with us. Did I not think so, I would not have embarked in it. You have everything to hope and nothing to fear from the part which duty to God, to my country, and to my conscience have led me to take in our affairs. The measures which I have proposed have hitherto been so successful that I am constrained to believe I act under the direction of Providence. God knows I seek His honor and the best interests of my fellow creatures in all I am doing for my country.” When he met with the delegates of the First Continental Congress, he rode horseback for 10-14 days to get to Massachusetts. I would constantly worry and pray about whether he would arrive safely and on time.
Your father also drafted a declaration for Pennsylvania to encourage independence and signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. During the war, he was surgeon general and narrowly escaped capture several times. When the war ended, I thought that the scariest days were over. I was proven wrong. During the end of 1793, yellow fever broke out in Philadelphia and killed over 5,000 people. Your father worked tirelessly to end it. Eventually, he found a cure in his old medicine books. My son, he was able to stop the plague before the whole population was gone. Then, his sister wrote to me telling me that my husband had contracted the fever. I besought God on my knees ever morning and every night for him.
As you all came to me with bumps and bruises, I ached for his wisdom, and I know you missed his gentle smile and warm hug telling you that it will be okay. My son, God hears the prayers of His children. Never forget that. During the years following, your father continued to serve his country whether it was ratifying the Constitution or educating 3,000 medical students. His greatest creation was the Bible Society of Philadelphia. I have never seen your father so pleased than when they printed the first stereotyped Bible. Father loved this country. During the war, he would often tell me, “All will end well.”
The war did end well, as did your father’s life. As I close this letter, dear Samuel, let me leave you with one last instruction from Father: “Commit yourself, and all you are interested in, daily to the protection of your Maker, Preserver, and bountiful Benefactor.”
Your mother,
Mrs. Benjamin Rush
Author’s note:
- Julia (Stockton) Rush died July 7, 1848.
- Samuel Rush became Deputy-Attorney General of Philadelphia County
- One of Benjamin’s sons was Richard Rush, U.S. Attorney General.
- All direct quotes are in quotation marks
Leave a Reply