Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/114

 ALLTSON

Their only child was Dudley Allen, who succeeded his father in his practice.

Dr. Peter Allen died in Kinsman, Ohio, September 1, 1S64, of cholera morbus.

His writings were confined to addresses and papers read before the various medi- cal societies of the state. D. P. A.

Magazine of Western History. Cleveland, Ohio, January, 18S6.

Allison, Richard (1757-1816).

Richard Allison, who was the first phy- sician to practise in Cincinnati, was born near Goshen, New York. Like many practitioners of that day, he was not a graduate in medicine. In 1776 he entered the army of the Revolution, remaining in it until the close of the war, and in 1789, when a corps under Gen. Harmar was organized for the protection of the frontier, was appointed surgeon. In 1790, when a new army was organized, Dr. Allison was made surgeon-general. After the defeat of Harmar's army in 1790, an entirely new organization was effected under Gen. St. Clair. Dr. Allison was made surgeon of the first infantry.

Following St. Clair's defeat in Novem- ber, 1791, a new "Legion" was formed in 1792, under Gen. Wayne. Dr. Allison was appointed surgeon of the "Legion."

When peace was declared in 1795, he practised in Cincinnati and vicinity, though not mustered out of the army until 1798.

Dr. Allison practised in Cincinnati

nearly a quarter of a century. He was

the first physician to die in that city,

his death taking place on March 22, 1816.

A. G. D.

Almon, William James (1754-1817).

William James Almon was born in New York in 1754, and died at Bath, England, in 1S17, after having practised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for upwards of thirty years. He was found dead in bed. A diary kept during his last illness has been published and is very interesting.

In 1771 he was apprenticed to Andrew Anderson, Physician and Surgeon, of New York. On the outbreak of the

> ALMON

Revolutionary War he sided with the Royalists and was employed as a sur- geon at the Battle of Bunker Hill. On the evacuation of Boston in 1776, he came to Halifax with Lord Howe's forces, but remained only a short time, as he accompanied the troops to New York and remained in active service for several years. In 1779 he received from Lord Townshend a commission as Assistant Surgeon to the 4th Battalion of Royal Artillery. Before the close of the Revolutionary War he returned to Halifax and received the appointment of surgeon of artillery and ordnance, a position which he held for many years. He was also a justice of the peace for Halifax and surgeon-general of the militia. He acquired an extensive practice and enjoyed, to the fullest extent, the con- fidence of the community.

He was very absent-minded, a charac- teristic which gave rise to many amus- ing anecdotes. Readers of Marryat's "Newton Foster" will readily recall the awkward predicament in which the hero's uncle was placed when he discovered himself unexpectedly in a bedroom with a woman not his wife. The incident is based on a misadventure of Dr. Almon's, which was related to Marryat by the family when the sailor-novelist was on the Halifax station. On another occa- sion, when paying a professional call on the Hon. Richard Bulkeley, he inadver- tently slipped a gold watch and chain, which was lying near, into his pocket, where it was found that evening by his wife, but not before its loss was being proclaimed by the town crier.

In 1785 he married Rebecca Byles, a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Mather Byles, and had a large family. His son, Dr. William Bruce Almon, succeeded to his practice. D. A. C.

Almon, William Johnston (1S16-1901).

William J. Almon was the son of Dr. William Bruce Almon. He was born at Halifax in 1S16 and died there January 18, 1901.

At King's College, Windsor, Nova