Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/881

NAME O'CALLAGHAN 859 O'CALLAGHAN From a medical standpoint I have been un- able to find anything recorded that would tend to show that he had accomplished anything more than would have come to the lot of the general practitioner. This may have been be- cause his later work as a historian so over- shadowed his labors as a physician, that no record was made of what he did or may have accomplished in that direction, but there seems to be no question that for a number of years he practised the healing art and rendered serv- ice in behalf of suffering humanity in Europe, Canada and the United States. It has been recorded that he was born in Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, February 29, 1797. His eldest brother, Theodore, held a commission in the English Army; the other brothers, Eugene and David, became priests and were distinguished for their learning. On completing his education in Ireland, Edmund went to Paris in 1820 to study medicine. In 1823 he emigrated to Quebec, where he was admitted to the practice of medicine. In 1827 he took an active part in the Na- tional Patriotic Movement and in 1834 became editor of its organ. The Vindicator. He was elected a member of the Provincial Parliament, and in 1836 became secretary of the Associa- tion called "The Friends of Ireland," taking an active part in its deliberations. After his election he moved an address to the Governor in regard to the complaints against Judge Gale and on the 6th of November, the Doric Club, a Tory organization, attacked the ofnce of his newspaper and completely destroyed the type, presses and material. He also took part in the action at St. Denis, where Colonel Gore and his associates in the Vindicator were re- pulsed and after this unsuccessful attempt to free Canada, he came to the United States. Lord Gosford on November 29, 1837, offered a reward for his body, on a charge of high treason. The first residence of Dr. O'Callaghan in the United States was at Saratoga, where he was the guest of Chancellor Walworth. In 1838 he resumed the practice of medicine in Alban}', where he edited the Northern Light, an industrial journal. The anti-rent agitation of the time led him to study the rights of the patroons. This study opened up to him the rich and neglected old Dutch records in the possession of the state. He mastered the Dutch language in order to facilitate his re- searches, and received the appointment of keeper of the historical manuscripts in the office of the Secretary of the State of New York. This office he held from 1848 to 1870. Dr. O'Callaghan received the degree of M. D. from St. Louis University in 1846 ^d that of LL. D. from St. John's College, now Ford- ham University, in 1856. The doctor was com- missioned by the New York Legislature to search the archives of London, Paris and The Hague and to make notes of documents bear- ing on New York Colonial History. The labors he performed in this direction, judging from the number of volumes, must have oc- cupied all his time for many years, and the accuracy of his work is indicated by the ref- erences that are made by historical writers of today, whenever the subject matter of colonial history of the state of New York is under consideration. Dr. O'Callaghan was highly esteemed for his medical learning, but his claim on posterity rests upon his historical writings; the clear- ness of his style and the accuracy of detail in his narratives gives authority to these wri- tings, which constitute a mine of original in- formation relating to New York colonial his- tory. Among his published works are the fol- lowing: "History of the New Netherland or New York under the Dutch," 2 vols., 8vo., 1846, Eecond Edition, 8vo., 1848, New York; "The Documentary History of the State of New York," 14 vols., 8vo., 1856-1883. The first ten volumes embrace the documents pro- cured in Holland, England and France by Jiihn Romeyn Broadhead in 1855-1861. These volumes contain many scarce historical tracts relating to the history of New York State, its towns, Indian massacres, and speeches and other important historical matter not to be found elsewhere. Other works were : "The Register of the New Netherland," 1626-1674, 8vo., p. 198, Albany, 1865; "Calender of Dutch, English and Revolutionary Manu- scripts in the Office of the Secretary of State," p. 423, Albany, 1865-1868. Dr. O'Callaghan contributed two volumes on the subject of religion: "Jesuit Relations, a Bibliographical Account," 8vo., 1847. Issued in French at Montreal, 12mo., 1850 ; "List of the Editors of the Holy Scripture and the parts thereof printed in America previous to 1860." Albany, 1860, 8vo., p. 415. Also at different times, eight papers in the French language relating to churches and missions. Dr. O'Callaghan died at his residence in New York City, May 27, 1880, of inflammatory rheumatism. He was married twice, his sec- ond wife surviving him. WiLLI.AM SCHROEDER. M-d. Ann., Albany, 1882, vol. iii. Trans. Med. Soc, County Albany, 368.