Benjamin Gale
Benjamin Gale | |
---|---|
Born | Jamaica, Queens, New York U.S. | December 14, 1715
Died | May 6, 1790[a] | (aged 74)
Alma mater | Yale University (A.M.) |
Spouse |
Hannah Eliot
(m. 1739; died 1781) |
Children | 8 |
Scientific career | |
Academic advisors | Jared Eliot |
Benjamin Gale (December 14, 1715 – May 6, 1790) was an American physician, scientist,
Gale was born in
In 1755, Gale would publish his first pamphlet against Thomas Clap, which he wrote as a response against an earlier pamphlet written by Clap. This pamphlet ended up being successful, prompting a pamphlet war with Clap throughout the next fifteen years, which ended in Clap's eventual resignation in 1766.
Throughout his later life, Gale went on several ventures as an inventor, vintner and distiller. After surviving a serious illness in 1788, Gale eventually fell ill again which led to his death in 1790.
Early life and education
Benjamin Gale was born on December 14, 1715, in
Shortly after his settlement in Goshen, Benjamin was educated by Samuel Johnson at his home in Stratford, Connecticut,[1] as Johnson was known to instruct young New Yorkers.[6] There, he was taught Latin and Greek, which he retained working knowledge of throughout his life.[6] At the age of thirteen, Gale was enrolled into Yale University, where he graduated in 1733, and received his Master of Arts three years later.[7]
After his graduation, Gale moved to the village of
Career
1740–1746 Business ventures and investments
Though never being considered wealthy, Gale had several business ventures and investments, including trading horses to the
He also owned two
1747–1773 Political activities and the pamphlet war against Thomas Clap
Gale was firstly elected
Subsequently in 1755, Gale began his
The next pamphlet called A Letter to a Member of the Lower House of Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut: Shewing, That the Taxes at Yale-College, Are Stated Higher Than Necessary to Defray the Annual Expences was published in March 1759, by Gale,[1] in which he claimed that Yale was not only making a profit of students' fees, but also that Clap should be investigated by the Connecticut General Assembly.[15] Though no investigation was launched, Reverend John Graham accepted the challenge of his pamphlet, causing Clap to again be the centre of another pamphlet war.[15]
This pamphlet led to even more criticism to Clap's administration, and though Gale eventually withdrew from the controversy, his pamphlets continued to be used against Clap's administration leading to his resignation after a dramatic defense in 1766.[15]
Later life and death
Gale helped bring attention to
An amateur vintner and distiller, Gale sent a specimen of his grape wine Peter Collinson, who dubbed him as "the American Bacchus".[17] More than ten years thereafter, he served Ezra Stiles with a drink called "Spirits", which he had distilled from corn syrup.[17]
Gale was the examining surgeon for Connecticut army physicians and, in 1787, was selected as the first president of the Connecticut Medical Society.[c][19]
In 1788, Gale survived a serious illness, but two years later, he fell ill again leading to his death on May 6, 1790.[20] After his death, a will he had written in 1788, was "Judged Illegal" by a probate court, due to doubts about his mental competence.[1]
Note
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stark 2000.
- ^ Whittemore 1884, p. 241.
- ^ Gale 1866, p. 191.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 697.
- ^ Gale 1866, p. 195.
- ^ a b c Groce 1937, p. 698.
- ^ Dexter 1885, p. 474.
- ^ Dexter 1885, p. 477.
- ^ a b c d Groce 1937, p. 699.
- ^ a b c Groce 1937, p. 708.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 700.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 700–701.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 701–702.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 702.
- ^ a b c Groce 1937, p. 703.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 708–709.
- ^ a b c Groce 1937, p. 709.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 715.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 710.
- ^ Groce 1937, p. 714.
Works cited
- Stark, Bruce P. (2000) [1999]. "Gale, Benjamin (1715-1790), physician, scientist, and political polemicist". Gale, Benjamin. )
- Groce, George C. (1937). "Benjamin Gale". JSTOR 359933.
- Whittemore, Henry (1884). History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men. New York: J.B. Beers & Co. pp. 240–241.
- Gale, George (1866). The Gale family records in England and the United States, to which are added some account of the Tottingham family of New England, and Bogardus, Waldron, and Young families of New York. Galesville: Leith & Gale. pp. 188–202.
- Dexter, Franklin Bowditch (1885). Biographical sketches of the graduates of Yale College : with annals of the college history. New York: Henry Holt and Company. pp. 474–480.