THE FIRST MEDICAL SCHOOL IN AMERICA; 
AN HISTORICAL ITEM. 
FRANCIS H. BROWN, M. D. 
In the report of a recent meeting of the Massachu- 
setts Historical Society 1 it was noted that inquiry had 
been made concerning a “ certain gentleman of Bos- 
ton ” who in 1739 liberally offered to establish a pro- 
fessorship of medicine “ in this Province, and who de- 
serves the honor of having been the first promoter of 
medical education in America,” even though his plans 
appear at the time to have been fruitless. 
By reference to the journal of the House of Repre- 
sentatives for July 7, 1739, one may find this record: 
“ Information being given to the House by the Mem- 
ber from Worcester, that a certain gentleman of the 
town of Boston, well disposed for the Encouragement 
and Support of a Professor of Physick within this 
Province, and that for good Purpose would chearfully 
contribute out of his own Estate a considerable Sum of 
Money, provided this Court will join in making a 
Grant of Lands, or other wise establish a good Fund 
for the valuable Ends aforesaid ; and the same being 
considered : 
“ Ordered, That the Members of Boston, Charles- 
town, Roxbury, and Chelsea, be a committee to treat 
with the said Gentleman, hear him on his Proposals, 
and report their Opinion of what may be proper to 
be done for the encouragement of so good a Scheme.” 
Whether the gentleman indicated appeared before 
the committee cannot be ascertained; but no action 
was taken on his suggestion, certainly during that ses- 
sion of the General Court. 
The learned gentleman who propounded this inquiry 
is in error in considering this the first attempt at a 
medical school in the provinces. In making investiga- 
tions regarding the history of medicine in America 
previous to 1700, and especially in reference to bio- 
graphical memoranda concerning the earliest physicians 
of Boston and its neighborhood, I find in the first gen- 
eral letter issued by the Massachusetts Bay Company 
to Endicott, under date of April 17, 1629, the follow- 
ing passage:— 
u We have entertained Lambert Wilson, chirurgeon, 
to remain with you in the service of the Plantation ; 
with whom we are agreed that he shall serve this Com- 
pany and' the other planters that live in the Plantation, 
for three years, and in that time apply himself to cure 
not only of such as came from hence for the general 
and particular accounts, but also for the Indians, as 
from time to time he shall be directed by yourself or 
your successor and the rest of the Council. And 
moreover he is to educate and instruct in his art one or 
more youths, such as you and the said Council shall 
appoint, that may be helpful to him, and, if occasion 
serve, succeed him in the Plantation ; which youth or 
youths, fit to learn that profession, let be placed with 
him ; of which Mr. Hugesson’s son, if his father ap- 
prove thereof, may be one, the rather because he has 
been trained up in literature ; but if not he, then such 
other as you shall judge fittest.” 
Young, in his Massachusetts Bay Chronicles,2 very 
truly says: — 
“ We have here the embryo of a medical school, 
undoubtedly the first contemplated on the Continent of 
America.” 
No record, however, exists of the success of this 
school, or of that to which reference is made in the 
letter to the Historical Society; but as an historical 
fact the attempt to found a medical school in 1629 has 
the precedence of the other by one hundred and ten 
years. 
1 Boston Daily Advertiser, March 9,1882. 
3 P«je 165.