This one is a good example of why it is
not as easy to do these as you'd think. Though James Durham did
something great, the dates of his birth and death are different
depending on where you look and there are no pictures of him.
Anywhere. Lots of folks have written about this guy and they are
using a picture of James McCune Smith who was the first formally
trained Black doctor. Durham was the first Black to practice medicine
without a degree. Get it together, people.
Born a slave in 1762 and
having 10 siblings he was owned by different doctors. By the time he
was 11 one of his masters hired him to help out with medical
services. At the age of 20 he was making $3,000 a year which sounded
real low until I did the conversion and saw that it came out to about
$75,870 a year. If I made that much now I'd be happy let alone in the
1700's.
Working as a nurse at the age of 21 he was able to buy his
own freedom and set up his own medical business in New Orleans. It is
said that he was popular due to the fact that he was able to speak
three languages: English, Spanish, and French. In 1789 he saved more
patients than any other physician from yellow fever after previously
meeting Benjamin Rush who is known as the father of American
medicine. In Philadelphia he learned that climate and disease were
related. In 1801 his practice was restricted even though he knew what
he was doing and good at his job because he did not have a formal
medical degree. It is said that disappeared after 1801 or 1802 and
died of a heart attack.
Click here for previous Famous Black
Firsts.
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