Mason Fitch Cogswell
Encyclopedia
Mason Fitch Cogswell was a United States physician
.
, president of the Continental Congress
and governor of Connecticut, and was graduated valedictorian at Yale
in 1780. He studied medicine with his brother James, at the soldiers' hospital in New York City
during the American Revolution
, and eventually became one of the best known surgeon
s in the country. He was the first in the United States to remove a cataract
from the eye, and to tie the carotid artery
(1803). Mainly through his influence the first permanent school for the deaf in North America was founded in Hartford, and his daughter Alice
was its first pupil. He was also a founder of the Retreat for the Insane in the same city.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Biography
He was adopted by Samuel HuntingtonSamuel Huntington (statesman)
Samuel Huntington was a jurist, statesman, and Patriot in the American Revolution from Connecticut. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, he signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation...
, president of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
and governor of Connecticut, and was graduated valedictorian at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1780. He studied medicine with his brother James, at the soldiers' hospital in 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...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and eventually became one of the best known surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
s in the country. He was the first in the United States to remove a cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
from the eye, and to tie the carotid artery
Carotid artery
Carotid artery can refer to:* Common carotid artery* External carotid artery* Internal carotid artery...
(1803). Mainly through his influence the first permanent school for the deaf in North America was founded in Hartford, and his daughter Alice
Alice Cogswell
Alice Cogswell was the inspiration to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet for the creation of the now American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut....
was its first pupil. He was also a founder of the Retreat for the Insane in the same city.