On (almost) this day in 1729, a signer of the Declaration of Independence is born in Amesbury, Massachusetts. In the modern-day show “West Wing,” President Josiah Bartlet is a fictional direct descendant of this guy. You have to wonder what the real Josiah Bartlett would think of that.
Bartlett studied to be a doctor and began practicing medicine in New Hampshire. On several occasions, he administered treatments that went against the conventional medical wisdom for his time. For instance, he bucked the system of treating certain fevers by bleeding patients. Instead, he used cooling liquids. You won’t be surprised to hear that his methods often worked better than the old ways! Bartlett’s practice thrived, and he was well-respected in his community.
As tensions with England began to rise, Bartlett was elected to New Hampshire’s legislature and was serving as a member of that body during the Stamp Act controversy. One early historian notes that the Royal Governor attempted to bribe Bartlett into siding with the Crown, but Bartlett “rejected every overture.”
Bartlett later became a leading member of the local Committee of Safety and a member of the state’s Provincial Congress. He was chosen to represent New Hampshire in the first Continental Congress, but he was prevented from attending when Loyalists burned down his home. Bartlett was chosen as a delegate again in 1775 and in 1776. On the latter occasion, he voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence.
He was the second person to sign that document, immediately after John Hancock!
Bartlett continued to serve the Patriot effort in many ways afterward. He still served in Congress, and he was a member of the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation. He provided medical assistance to New Hampshire troops under General John Stark. These men won an important victory at the Battle of Bennington. Bartlett later became a judge and a Chief Justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court. He served as a delegate to the New Hampshire state ratifying convention as the Constitution was being considered, and he advocated for its adoption. He was later elected as the chief executive of New Hampshire.
When he retired in 1794, he sent a message to the Legislature expressing his “grateful sense of the repeated marks of trust and confidence that my fellow-citizens have reposed in me.”
He died a little over a year later, having spent most of his adult life in public service.
P.S. Bartlett's real birthday is tomorrow, but tomorrow is Medal of Honor Monday, so using the story today instead.
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Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2016 by Tara Ross
Permalink: http://www.taraross.com/2015/11/thi...of-the-declaration-of-independence-is-born-2/
@AZZMAN75 @mp1998 @CavVol @Eyes4Vols @stonewall_jackson @DMS-PMS @PredVol
Bartlett studied to be a doctor and began practicing medicine in New Hampshire. On several occasions, he administered treatments that went against the conventional medical wisdom for his time. For instance, he bucked the system of treating certain fevers by bleeding patients. Instead, he used cooling liquids. You won’t be surprised to hear that his methods often worked better than the old ways! Bartlett’s practice thrived, and he was well-respected in his community.
As tensions with England began to rise, Bartlett was elected to New Hampshire’s legislature and was serving as a member of that body during the Stamp Act controversy. One early historian notes that the Royal Governor attempted to bribe Bartlett into siding with the Crown, but Bartlett “rejected every overture.”
Bartlett later became a leading member of the local Committee of Safety and a member of the state’s Provincial Congress. He was chosen to represent New Hampshire in the first Continental Congress, but he was prevented from attending when Loyalists burned down his home. Bartlett was chosen as a delegate again in 1775 and in 1776. On the latter occasion, he voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence.
He was the second person to sign that document, immediately after John Hancock!
Bartlett continued to serve the Patriot effort in many ways afterward. He still served in Congress, and he was a member of the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation. He provided medical assistance to New Hampshire troops under General John Stark. These men won an important victory at the Battle of Bennington. Bartlett later became a judge and a Chief Justice on the New Hampshire Superior Court. He served as a delegate to the New Hampshire state ratifying convention as the Constitution was being considered, and he advocated for its adoption. He was later elected as the chief executive of New Hampshire.
When he retired in 1794, he sent a message to the Legislature expressing his “grateful sense of the repeated marks of trust and confidence that my fellow-citizens have reposed in me.”
He died a little over a year later, having spent most of his adult life in public service.
P.S. Bartlett's real birthday is tomorrow, but tomorrow is Medal of Honor Monday, so using the story today instead.
------------
Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2016 by Tara Ross
Permalink: http://www.taraross.com/2015/11/thi...of-the-declaration-of-independence-is-born-2/
@AZZMAN75 @mp1998 @CavVol @Eyes4Vols @stonewall_jackson @DMS-PMS @PredVol
