American Medical Biographies/Barnes, Joseph K
Barnes, Joseph K[1] (1817–1883)
Joseph K Barnes, surgeon-general of the United States Army, was born in Philadelphia July 21, 1817, and educated at Round Hill School, Northampton, Massachusetts, and at Harvard University, but was forced to leave college before graduation on account of his health. He studied medicine under Dr. Thomas Harris and later attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, whence he obtained his M. D. in 1838 and in 1840 entered the army as assistant surgeon rendering notable service during the Mexican War and was present at the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Molino del Rey. After the war he was on duty at various military posts of the West and South. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was made medical director of Hunter's army. Later he served in the same capacity in the Western Department and with Halleck's army. In 1862 he was called to Washington, where he gained the friendship of secretary Staunton. When Surgeon-general Hammond was deposed it devolved upon Barnes to perform the duties of surgeon-general and in 1864 he was appointed successor to Gen. Hammond with the rank of brigadier general. As surgeon he worked zealously to advance the medical department of the army, and under his administration the Army Medical Museum and the Surgeon-General's Office Library were established. Under him, too, the "Medical and Surgical History of the War" was compiled. It was his sad lot to attend Lincoln and Garfield, the two martyr presidents, in their last hours. Gen. Barnes retired June 30, 1882, and died in Washington, April 5 of the following year.
- ↑ Barnes was a man who had no middle name and inserted the letter K as a substitute, being known as the man who put K in Barnes.