U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen, Adam (d. 1791) ------------------------------------------------------------------- American Medical Biographies by Howard A. Kelly and Walter L. Burrage Baltimore, The Norman Remington Company, 1920 Pages 1093-1094, Adam Stephen A native of Scotland, Stephen was educated at Edinburgh University where it is said he studied six years, the last two "in different physical classes," and that Donald Munroe, Gregory and Stephen took away the palm in all classes of philosophy, mathematics and physic." Leaving college he passed the examination for the position of naval surgeon, "but discovering that officers and men were a parcel of bears," he went as hospital-ship surgeon for the army in the expedition against Port L'Oriente. After various adventures he finally settled in Virginia. He took part in the French and Indian War, and with another physician of Scottish birth, Dr. James Craik (q. v.), accompanied Washington on that perilous journey which terminated at Fort Necessity. The Revolution found him on the side of his adopted country. In her preparation for the struggle with the mother- country, Virginia raised nine regiments of infantry, the first six of which were placed on the continental establishment and their officers commissioned by Congress. The third and fourth of these were commanded respectively by Hugh Mercer (q. v.), also a physician and a native of Scotland, and Adam Stephen. Stephen took an active part in the war, and became a general in the Continental Army, also filling the position of peace commissioner to the Indians. The town of Martinsburg in Berkeley County (now West Virginia) was founded and laid out by Stephen. The following quaint mention of two operations done by him are from a curious old manuscript endorsed in the handwriting of Dr. Rush in 1775, and read: "Stephen made himself known by making an incision into the liver of Mrs. Mercer of Stafford County, cleansing and healing the ulcers there, contrary to the opinion of all the faculty employed to cure the lady." It would seem probable that this was a case of abscess of the liver which was cured by operation. He also did an operation on one Abraham Hill for aneurysm, "restoring him the use of his arm and hand." Dr. Stephen was noted for his talents, energy, learning, and skill in his professional work. He died at an advanced age, at his home in Martinsburg in November, 1791. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Berkeley County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/berkeley/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------