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 Benjamin William McCready, M.D.

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McCREADY, Benjamin William, physician, was born in New York city, Oct. 28, 1813, son of Thomas and Margaret (Miller) McCready. He was educated in the public schools of New York. He first studied medicine under Dr. John Hrodhead Beck, professor of materia medica in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and became a favorite with him. Through the hitter's advice, Dr. McCready undertook the course there, and was graduated in high standing in the class of 1835. Hisskillasastu- dent was sufficiently marked to win for him an appointment as house physician to the Xew York Hospital,where he served a full term to the eminent satisfaction of the authorities. He was later appointed physician at the Tombs, and after a short term there became one of the most sought and valuable of the dispensary physicians in New York. This brought him to the notice of the Bellevue autho¡ties, who invited him to that hospital as visiting physician, a position he held for twenty-five years (1848-73)', a length of service rarely equaled. In 1874, being advanced in years and the demand on his time and service very great from without, he became consulting physician, in which capacity he served until his death. His earliest efforts as a teacher were made at the College of Pharmacy, which he helped largely to develop.

In 1861 he helped to found the Bellévue Hospital Medical College, becoming its first professor of materia medica and therapeutics. This chair he filled for eleven years, until 1872, when he Was created emeritus professor. He was chief medical examiner for the Washington Life Insurance Co., of New York, for twenty years. He helped to found the New York Medical and Surgical Association, and was one of its charter members. Dr. McCready was an acknowledged expert in medico-legal science, and was often called to testify in disputed will and insanity cases. During the cholera and typhus fever epidemics he manifested his zeal in the service. He was also n member of the New York Academy of Medicine and of the Century Club, and belonged to a number of scientific and philanthropic societies. He took an active interest in the politics of his era, and was an ardent friend of the slaves before the war. He was sent to Canada in the interest of the New York "Tribune" to inquire into the conditions of the fugitive slaves there, and wrote for that newspaper the results of his observations in a series of interesting and widely read articles on the subject. Taking a fancy to Halifax, N. S., he spent a part of each year there" from 18-% to 1892. Dr. McCready was married, first, to Margaret Doyle, of New York, who died iu I860; second, to Jane Gall. He hud one son and three daughters. He died in New York city, Лиг. 9. 1892.

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1874 Mccready,* Benjamin W., 1892.

M. D., Coll. Phys. & Surg., N. Y., 1835; Prof. Mat. Med., N. Y. Coll. Pharm.; Prof. Mat. Med. & Therap., Hell. Hosp. Med. Coll., 1861-72; Emeritus, 1872-92. Died in N. Y. City, 1892, act. 79.

(The personal edited research notes of Michael Echols, the source of which may or may not be completely documented)