John Sprague (1718–1797) was an early American physician.

Personal life

Born in 1718, he was graduated from Harvard College in 1737.[1] Around 1770, he moved to Dedham, Massachusetts.[1]

He married Elizabeth Dalhonde[lower-alpha 1] in 1745.[2] After Elizabeth died in 1757, he married Esther Harrison[lower-alpha 2] in 1770.[2] He had a son, Lawrence, who was an assistant to William Montague at a school in Dorchester.[3]

Sprague owned two homes in Dedham's Low Plains, both of which burned in 1765.[4] He then built a mansion, 75 by 25 feet (22.9 m × 7.6 m).[4] He died in 1797.[1]

Career

He lived in Cambridge and studied medicine in Boston with Doctors Louis Dalhonde and William Douglass.[1] He later opened his own practice in Boston.[1] While living in Dedham, he treated Faith Huntington for depression.[5]

He had a reputation as an excellent diagnostician.[1] He was a charter member of the Massachusetts Medical Society.[1]

Politics

He was active in the patriot cause and was friends with John Adams and Robert Treat Paine.[1] He was a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention of 1779–1780.[1] He was a member of the Sons of Liberty.[6]

On January 9, 1777, John Adams stayed at Sprague's home as he rode to Baltimore, Maryland to attend the Second Continental Congress.[7]

Notes

  1. Elizabeth was born in 1757[2]
  2. Esther lived from 1728 to 1811 and was the widow of Charles Harrison, who died in 1769.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Ames 1998, p. 113-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Sprague, John, Papers, 1713–1815" (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  3. Slafter 1905, p. 89.
  4. 1 2 Dedham Historical Society (2001). Images of America: Dedham. Arcadia Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7385-0944-0.
  5. "Faith Trumbull Huntington". National Park Service. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  6. Hanson 1976, p. 141.
  7. Adams, John (July 25, 1775). "Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 9 January 1777". Massachusetts Historical Society. Retrieved September 12, 2023.

Works cited

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