Giambattista Scandella
Encyclopedia
Giambattista Scandella was an Italian physician and scientist who emigrated to the United States
in 1796. Scandella studied medicine at the University of Padua
, and then went into medical practice in Venice
in 1786. He also conducted agricultural research on fertilizer and other topics.
Scandella was appointed as Secretary of the Venetian Embassy, serving in London. With experience abroad, Scandella had interest in American. He went to Quebec in 1796, and then settled in Philadelphia. There, he became an acquaintance of President George Washington
and Benjamin Rush
, and was a friend of architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in April 1798.
At the time in Philadelphia, there was great animosity between the Federalist
s and Thomas Jefferson
's Democratic-Republican Party. Scandella was a libertarian and radical, and feared for his freedom and safety from John Adams
' Federalists. In 1798, he decided to return to Europe, and headed to New York City
to seek ocean passage. In traveling through swampy areas of New Jersey
, he contracted yellow fever
and was very sick when he arrive in New York. An acquaintance, Elihu Hubbard Smith, provided a place for him to stay and Scandella died there on September 17.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1796. Scandella studied medicine at the University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
, and then went into medical practice in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in 1786. He also conducted agricultural research on fertilizer and other topics.
Scandella was appointed as Secretary of the Venetian Embassy, serving in London. With experience abroad, Scandella had interest in American. He went to Quebec in 1796, and then settled in Philadelphia. There, he became an acquaintance of President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
and Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Christian Universalist, as well as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania....
, and was a friend of architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in April 1798.
At the time in Philadelphia, there was great animosity between the Federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
s and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's Democratic-Republican Party. Scandella was a libertarian and radical, and feared for his freedom and safety from John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
' Federalists. In 1798, he decided to return to Europe, and headed to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to seek ocean passage. In traveling through swampy areas of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, he contracted yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
and was very sick when he arrive in New York. An acquaintance, Elihu Hubbard Smith, provided a place for him to stay and Scandella died there on September 17.
External Links
- The Giambattista Scandella Papers, containing letters and other writings, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.