Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/439

Rh gan's peculiar theories as to Shakespeare have ex- cited wide comment and criticism. He founded, in 1885, the Shakespeare society of New York, for the purpose of free discussion of any and all Shake- speare questions. Of this society Mr. Morgan was the first president, and he was re-elected in 1886, 1887, and 1888. In the development of his theory Mr. Morgan has published " The Shakespearean Myth, or William Shakespeare and Circumstantial Evidence" (Cincinnati, 1881); "Some Shake- spearean Commentators" (1882); "Venus and Adonis, a Study in the Warwickshire Dialect " (New York, 1885) ; and " Shakespeare in Fact and in Criticism " (1887). He has also published " Di- gesta Shakespeareana," an exhaustive classification by topics of all Shakespearean publications, except editions, from the Elizabethan and Jacobean dates to 1 Jan., 1887 (1887) ; and is the author of " Mac- aronic Poetry " (1872), and several legal treatises, including notes to " De Colyar on Guaranty and Suretyship" (1874); "The Law of Literature " (2 vols., 1875) ; notes to Best's " Principles of Evi- dence " (2 vols., 1876) ; and notes to " Addison on the Law of Contract " (3 vols., 1876).

MORGAN, James Dade, soldier, b. in Boston, 1 Aug., 1810 : d. in Quincy, 111., 12 Sept., 1896. He went to sea in the " Beverley " for a three years' trading voyage. When the vessel was thirty days out a mutiny occurred, and shortly afterward the ship was burned. Morgan escaped to South Ameri- ca, and, after enduring many hardships, returned to Boston. In 1834 he removed to Quincy, 111., and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He aided in rais- ing the " Quincy Grays," and at the time of the difficulties with the Mormons in 1844-'5 he was captain of the " Quincy Riflemen," and was ordered with his company to Hancock county to preserve order. During the Mexican war he served as cap- tain in the 1st Illinois volunteers. In 1861 he be- came lieutenant-colonel of the 7th Illinois regi- ment, and for meritorious services at New Madrid and Corinth was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, 17 July, 1862. In November, 1862, he commanded a brigade at Nashville, Tenn., and for gallantry at Bentonsville, N. C. he was brevetted major-general of volunteers, 19 March, 1865. He was mustered out of the army on 24 Aug., 1865. He was long vice-president of a bank in Quincy.

MORGAN, John, physician, b. in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1725: d. there, 15 Oct., 1789. His father, Evan Morgan, emigrated from Wales to Philadel- phia, and engaged in mercantile pursuits until his death in 1763. His son was graduated at the Col- lege of Philadelphia (now University of Pennsylvania) in 1757, after which he stud- ied medicine with Dr. John Redman, serv- ing an apprenticeship of six years, and then devoted four years to a military life as surgeon and lieuten- ant of Pennsylva- nia troops. In 1760 he went to Europe, where, through his friend, Benjamin Franklin, he was introduced to many eminent men. While in London he attend- ed the lectures and dissections of Dr. William Hunter. In November, 1761, he went to Edin- burgh, where he received the degree of M. D. in 1763. He spent the winter of 1764 in Paris, study- ing anatomy, and while there submitted to the Royal academy of surgery memoirs on " Suppura- tion " and " The Art of making Anatomical Prejia- rations by Corrosion," the latter of which procured his admission into that society. After visiting Italy and Holland he returned to London and be- came a licentiate of the College of physicians. In 1765 he returned to Philadelphia, and assisted in establishing a medical school in connection with the College of Philadelphia, in which he was ap- pointed professor of the theory and practice of medicine. At this time it was the custom for physicians to prepare and furnish their remedies, but Dr. Morgan proposed a separation of pharmacy and surgery from the regular practice. In October, 1775, he was appointed by congress director-general to the military hospitals and physician-in-chief to the American army, and immediately joined Gen. Washington in Cambridge. He found the hospital and army without medicines and appliances, and reorganized the general hospital, requiring proofs by examination of the qualifications of the assistants that were to be intrusted with the sick and wounded. Previous to this many unlettered and incompetent medical officers had found their way into the army, and the resulting condition of things was said by Washington to be " a disgrace to the profession, the army, and to society." In consequence of unjust complaints, Dr. Morgan was dismissed by congress without reason on 9 Jan., 1777; but a committee of that body afterward investigated his conduct and honorably acquitted him. Washington, in a letter to Dr. Morgan, dated 9 Jan., 1779, says: "No fault, I believe, was or ever could be found with the economy of the hospitals during your directorship." In 1773 he visited Jamaica, W. I., at his own expense to solicit donations for the advancement of general literature in the College of Philadelphia. He continued his services in the Pennsylvania hospital until his resignation in 1783. Dr. Benjamin Rush, who was his successor in the medical college, says : " His memory was extensive and accurate ; he was intimately acquainted with the Latin and Greek classics, had read much in medicine, and in all his pursuits he was persevering and indefatigable. I never knew a person who had been attended by him that did not speak of his sympathy and tenderness with gratitude and respect." His paintings^ and engravings, which he had collected in Europe, with a choice library of books and original manuscripts, were either destroyed by the British at Bordentown, N. J., where he had removed them for safety, or consumed by fire at Danbury, Conn., in the destruction of that place by the troops under Gov. Tryon. Dr. Morgan was a fellow of the Royal society of England, and a member of the Belles-lettres society of Rome. He took an active part in founding the American philosophical society in 1769, and published papers in its transactions. His writings include "A Discourse upon the Introduction of Medical Schools in Philadelphia" (Philadelphia, 1765); "Four Dissertations on the Reciprocal Advantages of a Perpetual Union between Great Britain and her American Colonies," for which he received a gold medal from John Sargeant, of London (1766); "A Recommendation of Inoculation according to Baron Dimsdale's Method " (1776) ; and "A Vindication of his Public Character in the Station of Director-General of the Military Hospitals" (1777). See "The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia," by George W. Norris (Philadelphia, 1886).