Frank Hastings Hamilton

Dr. Frank Hastings Hamilton (September 13, 1813 in Wilmington, Vermont – August 11, 1886 in New York City, New York) was an American surgeon.^[1] At the age of 14 Frank Hastings Hamilton was accepted into the sophomore class of Union College where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1830.

After graduation he began his 3 year medical apprenticeship under Dr. John G. Morgan, the physician at the New York State Prison of Auburn. Under Dr. Morgan's tutelage he studied anatomy and used his innate artistic talents to create oil paintings of nearly every part of the human body. He attended lectures at Fairfield and Western College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.^[2] He received his license to practice medicine in 1833 and received the degree of Medical Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania in 1835.

Hamilton co-founded the medical department of the University of Buffalo in 1846.^[3] He served as their first dean and taught surgery for 14 years. ^[4]

After teaching in various colleges, he became in 1861 professor in the Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He was a military surgeon for two years in the Civil War and was appointed medical inspector with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1863. Among the many positions of honor and trust which he held was the presidency of the New York Society of Medical Jurisprudence.

He served as consulting surgeon to various hospitals and asylums and became widely known as an authority on surgery, his three large works having a recognized place in the literature of medical science. They are:

• Treatise on Fractures and Dislocations (1860)
• Practical Treatise on Military Surgery (1861)
• The Principles and Practice of Surgery (1872)

In his later years, his place in history was secured by a tragic event. "Almost immediately after President Garfield was shot in 1881, Mrs. Garfield insisted upon sending for Dr. Hamilton. He was telegraphed for, and a special train being provided him, he went directly to the President's bedside. Until the President died, Dr. Hamilton in connection with Drs. Bliss and Agnew was almost constantly in attendance."^[5]

• Hamilton's bandage — a compound bandage for the lower jaw, composed of a leather string with straps of linen webbing.
• Hamilton's pseudophlegmon — a circumscribed swelling which may become red and indurated, but never suppurates.
• Hamilton's test — When the shoulder joint is luxated, a rule or straight rod applied to the humerus can be made to touch the outer condyle and the acromion at the same time.

Dorland's Medical Dictionary (1938)

At the beginning of the civil war he accompanied the 31st New York regiment to the front, and had charge of the general field hospital in Centreville during the first battle of Bull Run. In July, 1861, he was made brigade surgeon, and later medical director, and in 1862 organized the United States general hospital in Central park, New York. in February, 1863, he was appointed a medical inspector in the United States army, ranking as lieutenant-colonel, but resigned in September and returned to his duties in Bellevue hospital medical college.

Hamilton died at his home in New York City on August 11, 1886. He was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Hamilton was the great-grandfather of Frank H. Davis, who served as Vermont State Treasurer from 1969 to 1975.^[6]

Dr. Frank Hastings Hamilton was the son of Calvin Ulysses Hamilton (February 05, 1780 - July 11, 1864) and Lucinda (Hastings) Hamilton. Calvin Ulysses Hamilton was a farmer and owned a stagecoach line that ran across the Green Mountains between Bennington, Vermont and Brattleboro, Vermont.^[2] Calvin Ulysses Hamilton was born in Brookfield, MA, In 1816, Calvin and Lucinda moved to Schenectady, NY, then Auburn around 1830, then to East Oswego, after that Rochester and Buffalo, then back to Rochester where he passed away July 11, 1864.

Calvin Ulysses Hamilton's obituary reads "Calvin U. Hamilton, aged seventy, a well-known citizen of Rochester, was almost instantly killed on Monday by a pair of runaway horses rushing upon him while standing in the street." ^[7]

Through his mother, Lucinda (Hastings) Hamilton, Dr. Frank Hastings Hamilton is a descendant of Thomas Hastings who came from the East Anglia region of England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1634.^[8]

Dr. Frank Hastings Hamilton & Mary Van Arsdale had a son, Colonel Theodore B. Hamilton (1836-1893). Colonel Theodore B. Hamilton married Helen Margaret Foote, daughter of esteemed diplomat and journalist Thomas Moses Foote and Margaret St. John, circa 1872. Colonel Theodore B. Hamilton married Helen Margaret Foote went on to have three children:

• Thomas F. Hamilton b. circa 12 Nov 1872, d. 16 Aug 1917
• Frank H. Hamilton b. 18 Oct 1874, d. 29 Dec 1906
• Helen Margaret Hamilton b. 14 Feb 1876, d. 1 May 1961

Theodore B. Hamilton (1836-1893) began his military service on May 21, 1861 at Buffalo, Erie County, New York as a Captain in Co. G. 33rd New York Infantry Regiment. On December 27, 1862 at Buffalo, Erie County, New York he mustered into service as Lieutenant Colonel of 62nd New York Volunteers.

Battle of Gaines' Mill (June 27, 1862)

Captain Hamilton was captured at the Battle of Gaines' Mill on June 27, 1862 and was sent to Libby Prison in Richmond for confinement. "Lieut. Eustaphieve reports, "his Captain, Theodore B. Hamilton, of this city, wounded and prisoner; at least such was the general impression in the regiment. Capt. Hamilton is reported to have been surrounded by a horde of rebels, and to have fired every shot in his revolver before he could be captured." He was paroled on August 12, 1862 and returned to service.

December 27, 1862

On December 27, 1862 he was discharged from the 33rd and commissioned as the Lt. Colonel of the 62nd New York Volunteer Infantry, known as "Anderson's Zouaves" named in honor of the hero of Fort Sumter, Robert Anderson.

Battle of Marye's Heights (May 3, 1863)

Lt. Col. Theodore B. Hamilton received a gunshot wound at the Battle of Marye's Heights on May 3, 1863.

Battle of Gettysburg (Jul 1 - 3, 1863)

The regiment was commanded by Colonel David J. Nevin, who took over brigade command on July 1st. Lt. Col. Theodore B. Hamilton was given command of their brigade leaving Hamilton to lead the 62nd in the fight. Hamilton and his regiment are honored with a memorial at Gettysburg, where he led them in a charge that recaptured two guns that had been previously lost. A bronze tablet on the regiment’s monument on the J. Weickert farm at Gettysburg states: “On the site of this monument the Regiment under command of Lieut. Col. T. B. Hamilton charged the enemy and recaptured two guns.” ^[9]

Spotsylvania Court House (May 12, 1864)

Lt. Col. Theodore B. Hamilton received another gunshot wound, this time in his right leg. He was appointed the rank of Colonel for gallant service in the battle of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse on August 1, 1864.

June 29, 1864

Lt. Col. Theodore B. Hamilton was promoted to Colonel on June 29, 1864.

Third Battle of Winchester (September 19, 1964)

Col. Theodore B. Hamilton received his third gunshot wound at Winchester on September 19, 1964. Colonel Theodore B. Hamilton ended military service on August 20, 1865. He was given a sword which was inscribed "From the Members/of the/Richmond Guard/of Buffalo/to/Capt. T.B. Hamilton/as a Slight Testimonial/of their Esteem".^[10] In June, 1890 he was listed in the 1890 Veterans Schedule.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)