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Dr. Jonathan Potts
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Who was Jonathan Potts?
Who was Jonathan Potts?
A portrait of Jonathan Potts.
Jonathan Potts was born on April 11th, 1745, and was the 7th child of John and Ruth Potts, the founders of Pottstown. When the Potts family moved into Pottsgrove Manor in 1752, Jonathan was only 8 years old.¹
The Potts family, having a successful iron business, were able to afford an education for their sons. John Potts probably hoped that his sons would carry on the family iron business. Jonathan, however, decided to become a doctor. At the age of 16, he took on an apprenticeship under Dr. Phineas Bond in Philadelphia.¹
After his apprenticeship, and with a recommendation from family friend Benjamin Franklin, Jonathan left Philadelphia for Scotland to study medicine at the University of Edinburgh.¹
Although his studies did not go according to plan…
The London Coffee Shop
The London Coffee Shop
Grace
Before he left for Edinburgh, Jonathan became engaged to a young Quaker woman named Grace Richardson.¹
He often mentioned her in his journal, and seemed to miss her quite a lot while he was away for his schooling.
"My dear Gracey...the partner of all my pleasures as well as sorrows... I never knew the value of her good company until I was deprived of it."
"My dear Gracey...the partner of all my pleasures as well as sorrows... I never knew the value of her good company until I was deprived of it."
- Jonathan Potts ²
- Jonathan Potts ²
A portrait of Grace Potts.
In February of 1767, Jonathan received a letter from home that Grace, was “greatly indisposed upon his [account]."³ In other words, she was pregnant. He immediately departed from Edinburgh in an attempt to get home on time for his child’s birth.¹
On the way, he spent some time in the Pennsylvania Coffee House in London. In his diary, he expressed that he was mildly unhappy about having to stop his education, but Grace was significantly more important to him at the time. ¹
"I prefer [Grace]'s welfare and peace to all the vain pleasures...I expected to receive from my Education..." - Jonathan Potts⁴
"I prefer [Grace]'s welfare and peace to all the vain pleasures...I expected to receive from my Education..." - Jonathan Potts⁴
Jonathan borrowed £70 from Benjamin Franklin while in London.¹
He purchased: a bible, books, medical equipment, kitchen equipment (including a tankard and a ladle), a garnet necklace and a sewing kit for Grace, and even children’s dining wares.¹
He was preparing for his and his family's future.
The above Trephining Kit is a loan courtesy of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Unfortunately, Jonathan missed the last ship from London to Philadelphia and did not leave London until March 5th, 1767. He arrived in Philadelphia sometime after April 4th, after the birth of his first daughter Mary Francis.¹
On May 5, 1767, Jonathan married Grace and stayed in Pennsylvania.¹
Becoming a Physician
Becoming a Physician
Jonathan was only 21 when his education was cut short, but now with a wife and daughter, he could not go back to Edinburgh. He nonetheless started a practice in Pottsgrove. Soon, he was offered an incredible opportunity to continue his education, and advance his career, at the College of Philadelphia (now called Penn University), which was preparing its very first class of doctors.¹
In 1768, Jonathan graduated from the College of Philadelphia as valedictorian with a bachelor’s in medicine. He continued to practice medicine in Pottsgrove while writing a thesis to increase his education - and his prestige - even more.¹
In 1771, he received his M.D. after submitting his dissertation on malaria. Jonathan then moved his practice to Reading, a growing town in need of a medical practitioner.¹
Jonathan's Bachelor's degree from the College of Philadelphia, 1768
Patriot Potts
Patriot Potts
As the Revolutionary War drew closer, Jonathan quickly revealed himself as a patriot. He was very vocal about his opposition to the acts of the British Government and was eventually elected to the Committee of Correspondence for Berks County. From there, he was chosen to be one of seven delegates to a provincial convention in Philadelphia, in July of 1774.¹
In that same year, Jonathan was chosen for the Committee of Observation, which urged locals to cooperate in the revolutionary efforts. Notably, he encouraged the resident farmers of Berks County to prepare for the war by raising their lambs for wool, instead of using them for veal.¹
A recreation of a military doctor's chest, made by Pottsgrove Manor volunteers Ed and Mary.
"The preservation of wool being an object of the greatest consequence..."
"The preservation of wool being an object of the greatest consequence..."
- Jonathan Potts ⁶
- Jonathan Potts ⁶
In 1775, Jonathan joined the war effort as a company surgeon.
A large part of his service was spent in and around Fort Ticonderoga in New York. While there, he and his fellow military doctors unknowingly lead the largest Revolutionary War military hospital.¹
Thousands of soldiers were brought to Jonathan, either injured or sick. Diseases such as malaria, dysentery, and smallpox were threatening the success of the revolution.¹
A map of Fort Ticonderoga drawn by Jonathan Potts.
A letter from Dr. Morgan to Jonathan Potts regarding the shortage of medicine and supplies.
Although their supplies were dangerously low, Jonathan and his fellow doctors managed to eradicate the smallpox from their forts and eventually improved their situation greatly. ¹
Over 3,000 soldiers had been treated during Jonathan’s service near Fort Ticonderoga.¹
Pocket lancet, used to create a small incision, loan courtesy of Jennifer Bolton
The inoculation procedure consisted of extracting pus from the sores of an infected individual, and placing that pus into a small incision on the skin of a non-infected person.⁷
Almost always, the inoculated person faced mild symptoms of the disease but survived; in one case, 500 were inoculated and only one had died. The incolations then made the individual immune to smallpox in the future.¹
Smallpox
Smallpox
During the Revolutionary War, the colonies were ravaged by a smallpox epidemic. The contagious disease was disfiguring and often deadly.⁷
In 1776, General George Washington ordered the inoculation of all soldiers against the disease; an order which Jonathan helped to carry out.¹
"Pus" covered thread, used to transfer smallpox infection to a healthy person, recreation
The inoculated soldiers saw overall improved health. Dr. Jonathan Potts' efforts to improve the wellfare of the armies ultimately helped to boost his medical career.
The military commission that appoints Jonathan Potts to the position of Deputy Director, signed by John Hancock, 1777.
Thanks to his impressive service, Jonathan quickly moved up the ranks becoming “a Physician and Surgeon in the Canada Department,” and eventually the “Deputy Director General of the Hospital in the Northern Department” in 1777.¹
Jonathan retired from his military service on October 6, 1780 in part due to his poor health.¹
Jonathan's Death
Jonathan's Death
On October 15th, 1781, Jonathan Potts passed away at his home in Reading, Pennsylvania of an unknown disease. He was 36 years old.¹
Although his time was cut short, Jonathan left a lasting legacy within the Potts family and in the American Revolution.
Jonathan's Will
In his will, Jonathan divides his belongings between his wife, his children, and his close friends.
Manumission papers
These papers are copies of the official documents signed by Grace Potts that made free Pompey and Hester, the enslaved individuals left to her by Jonathan in his will.
"...a gentleman of established character for integrity, humanity, and capacity..."
"...a gentleman of established character for integrity, humanity, and capacity..."
- Dr. Rush on Dr. Jonathan Potts ⁵
- Dr. Rush on Dr. Jonathan Potts ⁵
Learn more
Learn more
Follow the links below to learn more about what it meant to practice medicine in the 18th century
Citations for this page
Citations for this page
Blanco, Richard L. Physician of the American Revolution: Jonathan Potts. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 1974.
As cited in James, Mrs. Thomas Potts. Memorial of Thomas Potts, Junior. Cambridge, MA.: 1894. Page 178.
Benjamin Rush's Journal, as cited in Blanco, Richard L. Physician of the American Revolution: Jonathan Potts. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 1974. Page 31.
Jonathan Potts' Diary, as cited in Blanco, Richard L. Physician of the American Revolution: Jonathan Potts. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, 1974. Page 31.
Rush, B. To George Washington from Benjamin Rush, 25 February 1778. Letter. From National Archives, Founders Online. https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-13-02-0564 (accessed July 20, 2023).
As cited in Montgomery, Morton L., History of Berks County. Reading Pa.: 1894. Page 30 - 31.
“Smallpox, Inoculation, and the Revolutionary War (U.S. National Park Service).” Online article. From Boston National Historical Park, National Parks Service: 2023. https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/smallpox-inoculation-revolutionary-war.htm#:~:text=Smallpox%20inoculation%20was%20a%20simple,the%20inoculated%20person%20contracting%20smallpox (accessed August 10, 2023).
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