Samuel Abbott Green

For other people with the same name, see Samuel Green.
Samuel Abbott Green
28th Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts
In office
1882–1882
Preceded by Frederick O. Prince
Succeeded by Albert Palmer
Personal details
Born March 16, 1830
Groton, Massachusetts
Died December 5, 1919

Samuel Abbott Green (March 16, 1830 – December 5, 1919) was an American physician-turned-politician from Massachusetts who served as a medical officer during the American Civil War and as mayor of Boston in 1882.

Biography

Green was born in Groton, Massachusetts, to Joshua Green and Eliza Lawrence.[1] His grandfather, Samuel Lawrence was an officer in the American Revolutionary War, and his uncles Amos and Abbott Lawrence were prominent merchants, philanthropists, and politicians. Green graduated from the Lawrence Academy at Groton in 1847, and Harvard in 1851.[2] Three years after his graduation, he received his medical degree, after which he spent several years in Europe. On his return to the United States, he began a medical practice in Boston, and became one of the district physicians for the city dispensary. On May 19, 1858, he was appointed by Governor Banks surgeon of the 3rd Massachusetts Militia Regiment.

Civil War service

At the beginning of the Civil War, Green was commissioned assistant surgeon of the 1st Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment, and was the first medical officer mustered in for three years' service. He was promoted surgeon of the 24th Massachusetts Regiment on September 2, 1861, where he remained until November 2, 1864, serving on the staffs of various cavalry officers. He had charge of the hospital ship “Recruit” for General Burnside's expedition to Roanoke Island. He commanded the hospital ship “Cosmopolitan” on the coast of South Carolina.

During the Second Battle of Fort Wagner, he was chief medical officer on Morris Island. In October 1863, he was sent to Florida, and was post surgeon at St. Augustine and Jacksonville; thence he was sent to Virginia, and was with the army when Bermuda Hundred was taken. He was appointed acting staff surgeon, and was stationed three months at Richmond after its fall. For gallant and distinguished services in the field, in 1864 he was brevetted lieutenant colonel of volunteers. Green organized Roanoke Cemetery in 1862, which was one of the first regular burial places for Union Army soldiers.

Return to Boston

After the close of the war, Green was from 1865 until 1872 superintendent of the Boston Dispensary, a member of the Boston School Board 1860-1862 and 1866-1872, trustee of the Boston Public Library 1868-1878, and acting librarian from October 1877 to October 1878. In 1870 Governor Claflin appointed him one of a commission to care for disabled soldiers. In 1871 he became city physician of Boston, and retained the office till 1880. He was chosen a member of the board of experts authorized by congress in 1878 to investigate the yellow fever. In 1882, he was elected mayor of Boston.

Historical studies

Green gave much time to historical studies, and for some years was librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society. He was also elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1865,[3] and served as its vice-president from 1904 to 1918.[4] In addition to a large number of papers on scientific and historical subjects, Green published:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Dr. Samuel Abbott Green's Collection of Groton Broadsides". Lawrence Academy. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ "A Brief History of Lawrence Academy". Lawrence Academy. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  4. ↑ Dunbar, B. (1987). Members and Officers of the American Antiquarian Society. Worcester: American Antiquarian Society.

References

Political offices
Preceded by
Frederick O. Prince		 Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts
1882 		Succeeded by
Albert Palmer
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/9/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.