Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/372

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SniPPEN


SHIRAS


he was forMa len ail}- coinnmnicatiou with the British during the Revolutioniir.v war and allow- ed to depart only a specified distance from his home. He was judge of the higli court of ap- peals of Pennsylvania, 1784-89; justice for the dock ward and of the court of quarter sessions of Pliiladelpliia in 178."j: justice of the supreme court of Pennsylvania, 1701-90, and its chief justice, 179'J-lsOG. He married Peggy Francis of Pliiladelphia, and their daughter Margaret (17G0- 1^04) hecame the second wife of Benedict Arnold. He received the degree LL.D. from the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, in 1790, and was a trustee of that institution. 1791-1806. He was a member of the American Philosophical society, 17GS, and is the author of the first law reports of Pennsyl- vani 1. He died in Pliiladelpliia, April 16, 1806.

SHIPPEN, William, delegate, was born in Philadelpliia. Pa., Oct. 1, 1712; son of Joseph and Abigail (Gross) Shippen. He was educated in Europe, and prepared himself for the medical professi(m, settling in practice in his native city, wliere he was particularly successful. He was married, Sept. 19. 183.5. to Susannah, daughter of Joseph and Katherine (Noble) Harrison of Philadelphia, and made his home at Germantown, Pa., being one of the largest landowners in the district. He was a founder of the Philadelphia academy, now the University of Pennsylvania, and one of its trustees, 1749-79. He was also in- strumental in establisliing the Pennsylvania ho.spital, serving as its physician, 17.5.3-78, and was one of the founders of the First Presbyterian cliurcli in Philadelphia in 1742, and a member for seventy years. He was a member of the Junto, and became vice-president of the American Pliilo- sophical society in 1768. He was a delegate to the Continental congress from Pennsylvania, serving 1778-80. He died in Germantown, Pa., N(.v. 4. 1801.

SHIPPEN, William, physician, was born in Philadelphia, Pa.. Dec. 21, 1730; son of Dr. Wil- liam (q.v.) and Susannah (Harrison) Shippen. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B,, 1754, A.M., 1757; began the study of medi- cine under his father, 1754-58; continued under Drs. John and 'Williara Hunter, and Dr. Mc- Kenzie in London, and was graduated at the University of Edinburgh, M.D., 1761. He was married about 1762, to Alice, daughter of Tliomas and Hannah (Leedwell) Lee of Virginia. Upon liis return to Philadelphia in 1762, he delivered a series of anatomical lectures to twelve students, and engaged in practice. He helped to organize the first medical school in America connected with the College of Philadelphia, and was pro- fessor of anatomy and surgery tliere. 1765-1780. He entered the Continental arm}' as head surgeon of the Flying Camp, July 15, 1776; was elected


by congress, " director-general of all the military hospitals" April 11, 1777, and I'esigned Jan. 3, 1781, having been accused, tried and acquitted before a military court for dishonest conduct. He succeeded liis fatlier as physician to the Pennsyl- vania hospital, serving 1778-79 and 1791-1802; occupied the chair of anatomy, surgery and mid- wifery in the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, 1780-90, and of anatomy, 1791-1806. He was an honorary member of the Massachusetts Medical society, a member of the American Philosophical society, and its curator and secretary-, and a trustee of the College of New Jersey, 1765-96. He has been called the father of medical science in the United States. He died in Germantown, Pa., July 11, 1808.

SHIRAS, George, Jr., jurist, was born at Pitts- burg, Pa., Jan. 26, 1832; son of George and Eliza (Herron) Shiras; grandson of George and Han- nah (Perry) Sliiras and of Francis and Elizvbeth (Blaine) Herron. He matriculated at Ohio uni- versity, Athens, Ohio; was graduated from Yale in 1853, and at- tended the Yale Law school, 1854. He was admitted to the bar in 1856, and practised law in Pittsburg, tak- ing high standing in the legal profession. He was married, Dec. 31, 1857, to Lillie E., daughter of Robert and Charlotte (Ham- bright) Kennedy of Pittsburg, Pa. In 1881, when a deadlock occurred in the Pennsylvania legislature over the election of a U.S. senator, it was decided by a ma- jority of two to elect Mr. Sliiras, but the vote was reconsidered and John J. Mitchell was elected in- stead. On July 19, 1892, he was appointed by Pres- ident Harrison, an associate justice of the U.S. supreme court to succeed Joseph P. Bradley, de- ceased, and he took the oath of oflSce, Oct. 10, 1892. On Feb. 18, 1903, he resigned from the supreme bench, his resignation taking effect Feb. 24, when William R. Day (q.v.) was ap- pointed his successor. The honorary degree of LL.D. was conferred on him b}' Yale in 1883.

SHIRAS, Oliver Perry, jurist, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 22, 1833; .sou of George and Eliza (Herron) Shiras; grandson of George and Hannah (Perry) Shiras and of Francis and Eliza- beth (Blaine) Herron. He was graduated from Ohio university, Athens, Ohio, A.B., 18.53, A.M., 18.50, and from Yale Law school, LL.B., 1856, removing to Dubuque, Iowa, where he was ad-


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